The Kerala government has announced a caravan tourism policy, promising safe, customised, and close-to-nature travel experience for visitors in tune with the preferences of tourists in the post-pandemic period.
Unveiling the policy which offers attractive investment subsidy to caravan operators, Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas said here on Wednesday that the initiative marked a paradigm shift in almost three decades after Kerala made it big with houseboat tourism.
“Like other successful tourism products of Kerala launched since the 1990s, caravan tourism will also be developed on PPP mode with private investors, tour operators and local communities as key stakeholders,” he said.
In a few months
“The policy envisages the development of caravan tourism in Kerala, predominantly in the private sector through incentivising the purchase of caravans and for establishing caravan parks,” the Minister added. He also unveiled the logo of Caravan Tourism. The project will be rolled out in a few months.
“Caravan tourism imparts an added thrust to the State’s approach of leveraging its tourism potential by improving access to unexplored locations,” said Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism V. Venu.
The two major components of this activity are tourism caravans and caravan parks. While the first involves specially built vehicles for travel, leisure, and stay, the parks are designated places to park the vehicles and enable the visitors to spend a night or a day or station for an extended period to explore the destination.
Facilities in caravans
The caravans will have all facilities for a comfortable stay such as sofa-cum-bed, kitchenette with fridge and microwave oven, dining table, toilet cubicle, partition behind the driver, air-conditioner, internet connectivity, audio-video facilities, charging system and GPS. The policy also features IT-enabled real-time monitoring of caravans to ensure security of the guests.
Caravan tourism will also promote Responsible Tourism activities for the benefit of the local communities while promoting eco-friendly practices and market for local products.
