Finance Minister Thomas Isaac has come out with major announcements for lending a helping hand to the tourism sector which had plunged into a major crisis due to Covid pandemic.
The minister sanctioned Rs 100 crore for campaign and promotion of Kerala tourism, an increase of 40 per cent compared to last time.
Besides, Rs 25 crore was sanctioned for campaign publicity in other states. The minister announced that the passenger train facility in Tata Estate land in Munnar will be restarted and the government would soon constitute a tourism workers welfare fund board.
However, there was no mention of the Rs 450 cr loan scheme announced for tourism entrepreneurs which were caught in red-tapism.
Other allocations in Tourism sector
• Development of tourism centres - 117 crores, Muziris, Alappuzha, Thalassery, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode heritage tourism schemes - Rs 40 crore.
• Champions boat league - Rs 20 crore.
• Study tour initiatives - Rs 5 crore.
• Modernization of tourism guest houses - Rs 25 crore.
• Heritage, handicrafts and artefacts conservation in the private sector - Rs 13 crore
• Tourism hospitality establishments, KTDC - Rs 10 crore
• Kochi Biennale - Rs 7 crore.
• Ecotourism products - Rs 3 crore.
• Alappuzha global painting exhibition - Rs 2 crore.
