The State government intends to develop the tourism sector further by exploring the possibilities thrown up by changing times, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said.
He was speaking after inaugurating the Nagaravasantham flower show organised jointly by the Tourism Department, District Tourism Promotion Council, and the Kerala Rose Society, in association with the city Corporation.
Mr. Vijayan said Kerala had a tradition where in after a day’s hard work, people organised cultural programmes at night for recreation. It was an attempt to bring back such a culture that night life was being promoted as part of Responsible Tourism. Programmes such as Nagaravasantham would provide a fillip to such efforts.
The peaceful environment in the State was an asset for the tourism sector. Selection of the State among the 50 must-see destinations by national and international publications such as Time and India Today was a recognition for Responsible Tourism, he said.
Mr. Vijayan handed over a rose plant to Mayor Arya Rajendran to inaugurate the flower show.
Minister for Tourism P.A. Mohamed Riyas who presided over the function said the highest number of domestic tourists reached the State this year since the formation of Kerala. As per figures till September this year, 1.3 crore domestic tourists had reached the State. By the end of the year, this would touch 1.5 crore, an all-time record.
The Minister switched on the decorative lighting arranged by the Tourism Department as part of Nagaravasantham.
Ministers G.R. Anil, Antony Raju, and Roshy Augustine, MLA V.K. Prasanth, and Tourism Director Prem Krishnan, participated in the function.
With the inauguration, entry to the exhibition venue at Kanakakkunnu was allowed for the public. Tickets are priced at ₹100 for adults and ₹50 for children till the age of 12.
Ticket counters have been set up at five places in the city to prevent crowding – in front of Kanakakkunnu, Tourism office opposite Museum, flower show organising committee office opposite Jawahar Balbhavan, DTPC office at Vellayambalam, and Tagore Theatre at Vellayambalam.
The show will continue till 1 a.m., while the tickets will be given till 12 midnight. Cultural programmes will also be held as part of the show.
