Kerala announces 'dream season' to draw home tourists

New Delhi, Feb 18 : The Kerala government Thursday announced the 'dream season' period to attract more domestic tourists to the state during the months of April to September, considered a lean tourist season.

This is the fourth 'dream season' campaign aimed at attracting more domestic tourists and interesting travel packages are on offer, Kerala Tourism Secretary V. Venu said here.

"A wide range of great-value travel packages for domestic tourists will be effective from April," Venu said.

Information about the packages is available on the Kerala tourism website - http://www.keralatourism.org/dreamseason/.

"Great-value packages - ranging from backwater houseboat cruises to hill station holidays, ayurvedic rejuvenation packages to monsoon honeymoon trips - will be offered by hotels, resorts and tour operators in Kerala," Venu said.

He said the economic downturn in the West has not affected the tourism industry in the state as the tourist arrival from within the country increased five to six percent last year.

"Lacuna of international tourists arrival have been filled by domestic consumers. Global economic meltdown forced us to concentrate on the domestic market," he added.

In a bid to boost the arrival of domestic tourists, the state tourism department is planning to conduct 15 more road shows in major cities across north India, he said.

The tourism department has already conducted road shows in the states like Punjab and Haryana.

"States like Punjab and Haryana are good markets. We have a tremendous response from these states," he said.

He said 'dream season' holidays in Kerala would become a rewarding period for stakeholders and an enjoyable one for travellers; much better than the previous ones.

Venu said Kerala is currently competing with international tourism destinations and Kerala is ready to face international competition as it has moved away from classical public sector tourism.