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NO. 1 Bi - Weekly for vacancies abroad.
Published every Wednesday & Saturday
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Gulf becomes focus of Kerala tourism planners

With tourist arrivals to the country showing an upward trend, the Gulf countries,
especially Saudi Arabia, had become the focus of tourism planners. A 38 per cent growth had been registered in inbound tourism from Saudi Arabia during 2010-11, with 21,500 Saudi
national visiting the country, as per India Tourism’s official figures

Our T’puram Correspondent

The quest of Kerala Tourism to tap new markets to increase foreign tourists arrivals to the state and retain its position as prime destination has made the tourism planners to look towards the Gulf countries.

With tourist arrivals to the country showing an upward trend, the Gulf countries, especially Saudi Arabia, had become the focus of tourism planners. A 38 per cent growth had been registered in inbound tourism from Saudi Arabia during 2010-11, with 21,500 Saudi nationals visiting the country, as per India Tourism’s official figures.

Enthused by the increasing tourist arrivals from Saudi, India, which has been highlighted as a tourism hotspot by the World Travel and Tourism Council, has already organised roadshows in Dammam and Riyadh to woo tourists.

Organised by the Government of India Tourist Office (GOITO), Dubai, in collaboration with the Embassy of India, the response to the India Tourism Roadshows was overwhelming.
About 4 of the 10 tour operators who were part of the delegation led by the Union Tourism Secretary, Rajen Habib Khwaja, were from Kerala.

“We got the opportunity to interact with more than 100 operators from Saudi Arabia, based in Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah and many are keen to promote Kerala,” said Anish of the city-based Travel Planners who was part of the high-level delegation.

“Far East has been the favourite destination for Saudis and now they are looking at the new destination. Kerala is getting very popular and we have to tap this emerging market,” he added.
There are Saudis who regularly come for ayurveda treatments at Kottakal Medical Tourism and Wellness Holidays have huge potential. Kerala Tourism has also worked out a strategy to woo Saudi nationals to the state.

“Roadshows had been planned in Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah in April. Outdoor display of Kerala tourism products is to be taken up in a big way in Saudi Arabia. Kerala Tourism advertisements in Arabic will soon appear in the Gulf,” says Rani George, Director, Kerala Tourism.

The spin-off effect will be high if the Saudi market is tapped. Saudis proceed on holiday from April to August which is an off-season in Kerala.

The affluent Saudis are high on spending and the state can look for increased revenue in terms of stay, travel and shopping. The demand for Arabic-speaking guides and drivers are on the increase and this will benefit Gulf returnees.

Tour operators are expecting a 100 per cent growth in tourist arrivals from Saudi this year. The increase in repeat visitors shows that Kerala is emerging as a favourite destination for Saudi nationals.

 

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