After recovering from devastating floods last year, Kerala is expecting a 5-10 percent increase in tourists’ arrival in 2019 and its revenue from the sector is expected to grow by about 3-6 percent in the current year.
The state’s tourism sector suffered an estimated loss of Rs 2,000 crore in the last year on account of deadly floods that wreaked havoc in the southern state. Of the total estimated loss, Rs 1,500 crore was lost due to the cancellation of bookings and hoteliers and resorts’ owners incurred losses to the tune of Rs 500 crore on account of damages. Kerala has recovered from the devastating floods. This year, Kerala is expecting a 5-10 percent increase in footfall of both domestic and international tourists.
Overall, 1.67 crores of international and domestic tourists visited the southern state last year. Revenue from the state tourism was at Rs 36,528 crore in 2018 and a 3-6 percent increase in revenue is expected this year. Among foreign tourists who visited last year, maximum of them came from the UK, followed by the US and France. The state has been pursuing a five-year target of doubling the arrival of foreign tourists and a 50 percent increase in domestic tourists by 2021. Tourism currently contributes about 10 percent to the gross domestic product of the southern state, adding that the share of tourism would increase further in coming years.
