Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday assured the state's tourism industry that his government will ensure that there is minimal disruption to tourism activities.His assurance came after inaugurating the ninth edition of Kerala Travel Mart (KTM), the signature event of Kerala Tourism, here, on Tuesday night when KTM president Abraham George sought the support of Vijayan's government and requested tourism-friendly policies with regards to shutdowns and excise regulations."While it may not be feasible to avoid shutdowns in the state, the Government of Kerala would do its utmost to ensure minimal disruption to tourism activities," said Vijayan.He also told the gathering of tourism honchos that Kerala would be declared an open defection free state on November 1.Vijayan asked the industry captains to see that to keep Kerala's reputation as the Ayurveda capital, only trained professionals should be permitted to work in such an important sector."The government is mooting proposals to bring out an Ayurveda training centre under its control," he said.
He pointed out the the main aim of KTM is to help the tourism sector raise earnings by about Rs 5,000 crore in the coming five years."This time, the KTM is expected to witness around 25,000 business meetings between buyers and sellers. I hope that this Mart will enable buyers to make new relationships and partnerships, create new packages and bring more visitors to Kerala," added Vijayan.Principal Secretary, Tourism, V. Venu said tourism today accounts for 10 per cent of the state's GDP and providing employment to three million people."The Mart is seen as the spearhead for inclusive, accessible growth for tourism in the state as well as a showcase for the vibrancy of Kerala as a tourist destination," said Venu.