With its unparalleled natural beauty, picturesque destinations, excellent accommodation & banquet facilities and connectivity, Kerala has the potential to be developed as a wedding destination. The recent trend shows that, a considerable number of destination weddings are happening across Kerala. Be it the serene backwaters fringed by swaying palm trees, pristine beaches where foamy waves create a calming symphony, or the mystic hill stations with sprawling tea plantations, this state is the ideal place to embark on a new beginning.
Buoyed by a clutch of global awards and accolades, Kerala Tourism will unleash a raft of new projects and events that will turn the state into an all-season destination and make the stay of new-age travellers a relaxing, rejuvenating and learning experience by unfolding before them the captivating charm of rural hinterland and lesser-known places.
For Kerala Tourism, 2022 was a year of remarkable achievements and inspiring global and national honours.
TIME magazine featured Kerala as one of the ‘50 Extraordinary Destinations to explore in 2022’. Conde Nast Traveller recognized Kerala’s ‘Aymanam village’ as one among 30 best places to visit in 2022, the state was chosen by Travel & Leisure magazine for the ‘Global Vision Award’. The state was also voted as the ‘Best Wedding Destination’ by readers of Travel Plus Leisure.
Commenting on the marketing campaigns, Tourism Minister Shri P A Mohamed Riyas said, the focus will no longer be confined to beaches, backwaters and hill stations. “We now want to transform the whole of Kerala into an interconnected tourist haven, where visitors get plenty of choices and diverse experiences. All this will make a trip to Kerala, a wholesome experience for visitors looking for diverse experiences – be it a stay in a houseboat or a caravan, ecologically responsible adventure activities or visits to heritage and cultural centres.”
“Kerala has huge potential to emerge as an ideal Wedding Destination and it is going to be a major segment of our tourism. A series of marketing activities have been planned as part of a concerted strategy to promote Kerala as a global wedding destination and a paradise for honeymooners,” he added.
Mr Sajeev, Information Officer, Kerala Tourism said “Kerala’s houseboats, caravan stays, jungle lodges, plantation visits, homestays, Ayurveda-based wellness solutions, countryside walks and adventure activities, including trekking to verdant hills, will be a real feast providing a unique experience to visitors,”.
“We have made elaborate plans to give an effective thrust to showcase Kerala’s new projects like Caravan Tourism – “Keravan Kerala”, as well as its core assets like beaches, hill stations, houseboats and backwater segment to heighten the totality of visitor experience,” he added.
Kerala set an all-time record in domestic tourist footfalls in last year. The state hosted 1.33 crore tourists in the first three quarters of the year. Significantly, this marked an increase of 1.94 per cent from the pre-pandemic year.
Last year, the STREET project, a part of the state’s storied Responsible Tourism initiative, bagged the global award at World Travel Market (WTM), London. Besides, India Today ranked Kerala as the topmost performer in tourism in the ‘big states’ category.
The ongoing December 2022-April 2023 Kochi-Muziris Biennale is getting a stupendous responses from connoisseurs of art as well as tourists from across the world.
The first phase of the B2B partnership meets held in Delhi, Chandigarh, Jaipur & Lucknow earlier in January and Ahmedabad, Chennai & Hyderabad earlier in February, had a highly encouraging response from the industry.
Kerala Tourism had a grandeur presence, showcasing the unique touristy features of the state, in the just concluded, OTM (Outbound Travel Market) Mumbai and at the South Asian Travel and Tourism Exchange (SATTE), New Delhi.