Budget declaration granting industry status to tourism historic; expected to trigger major investment surge: KTM

The Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) Society hailed the state budget's announcement granting industry status to the tourism sector as ‘a historic milestone’, saying it will facilitate influx of significant investments in this vital sector.

Historic Milestone
- Tourism granted industry status — businesses can now access subsidies and concessions similar to other industries (electricity, water, taxation).
- Expected to attract major investments and boost GST revenue.

Land Use Reforms
- Legal amendments will allow unused plantation land (coffee, cardamom, tea estates) to be repurposed for tourism projects.
- Seen as transformative for expanding tourism infrastructure.

Infrastructure Upgrades
- Amenity centres and houseboat terminals in the Alappuzha Mega Tourism Circuit to be upgraded.
- Dedicated houseboat waste treatment plant at Vembanad Lake — addressing long-standing pollution concerns.

New Projects & Circuits
- Pathiramanal Island master plan with a ropeway facility.
- Pilgrimage tourism circuit linking Arthunkal Basilica, Ambalappuzha Temple, Mannarasala, Krishnapuram Palace, Mata Amritanandamayi Math, and Oachira Temple.
- Green Marshals programme (women-led safety initiative) at Fort Kochi, Munnar, Kovalam, and Alappuzha.

Eco & Local Experiences
- Focus on authentic local experiences: biodiversity-rich mangrove farms, eco-tourism projects.

Budget Allocation
- Over ₹325 crore earmarked for tourism, with strong emphasis on infrastructure.
- KTM noted marketing allocation is insufficient to keep Kerala competitive globally.

This move positions Kerala to scale up tourism as a formal industry, blending heritage, eco-tourism, and modern infrastructure.