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| Last Updated:: 25/07/2023

Tourism & Heritage

 

| Eco Tourism    | Hill Stations   |

 

                           Kerala is a green strip of land, in the South West corner of Indian peninsula. Its unique feature, culture and traditions, coupled with its varied demography has made Kerala one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. This Tropical paradise with its spectacular and diverse natural attractions has greatly attracted holiday makers from across the world. Kerala is one among the longest- lived, healthiest, most gender equitable and most literate regions makes it distinct from other developed countries. Realising the importance of tourism in stimulating the economic development of the state, the Government of Kerala declared tourism as an industry in 1986. Today, tourism is Kerala's booming industry and one of the fastest growing, high income and employment generating sector. Constant efforts are on to promote Kerala abroad and marketing strategies are being evolved along with new and exciting tourism products. The state department of tourism along with private entrepreneurs is taking steps to improve the facilities and infrastructure at places with tourism potential. Kerala, promoted as “God’s Own Country” is blessed by nature with varied geographical features like beaches, hill stations, backwaters, national parks & wild life sanctuaries. The centuries- old holistic medicine of Ayurveda, the unique boat races that is the largest team sport in the world, the ride through the winding waterways in a cosy houseboat or the colourful and exotic festivals, Kerala offers a multitude of experience to the tourist. Popular attractions in the state include the beaches such as  Kovalam,  Varkala, Marari, Bekal and Kannur. Kerala’s most popular backwater destinations are Kumarakom, Alappuzha, Kollam, Kochi  and Kozhikode, and its best known hill stations are  Ponmudi, Munnar, Wayanad and Wagamon. Kerala has a number of  well- known wildlife reserves, including the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Eravikulam National Park,  Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary and Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary.

                 

Tourism in India

 

             Tourism plays an important role as a foreign exchange earner for the country. In 2021, foreign exchange earnings (FEE) from tourism were US $8.797 billion compared to US $6.958 billion in 2020, registering a positive growth of 26.43 per cent. According to United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), India's share of international tourist arrivals is 1.64 per cent in 2021. India received 677.63 million domestic tourist visits in 2021, an increase of 11.05 per cent from 610.22 million in 2020. (India Tourism Statistics 2022).

 

Tourism in Kerala

 

                Tourism has contributed significantly to the economy of Kerala for decades, with revenue of ₹12,285.91 crore to the sector in 2021. Tourism is the key activity and the central driver of post-COVID recovery of the economy, community enterprises, job opportunities, cultural exchanges, infrastructure development. It will build linkages and interconnections with other sectors and departments like agriculture, fishing, transport, education and infrastructure. Shopping malls and restaurants have resumed business as usual to allow more economic activity. Growth of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTA) slipped to an all-time low figure of (-)82.25 per cent in 2021 compared to 2020. Domestic Tourist Arrivals (DTA) showed negative growth of (-)72.86 per cent in 2020; but emerged positively, recording 51.09 per cent in 2021, with the ease of restrictions on travel within India. (Department of Tourism, GoK)

 

Foreign Tourist Arrivals

 

                 The number of foreign tourists who visited the country in 2021 was 15.27 lakh, 44.36 per cent lower than the tourist arrivals in 2020. Around 0.6 lakh foreign tourists visited the State in 2021, which is (-) 82.25 per cent lower than (3.4 lakh) the previous year. The number of foreign tourists who visited Kerala in 2022 up to June was 1.05 lakh. The Figure below reveals the trends in the arrival of foreign tourists in India and Kerala during 2012 to 2021.

 

Annual growth rates in the arrival of foreign tourists in India and Kerala from 2012 to 2021, in per cent  

       

 

 

 Source: Department of Tourism, GoK

 

Kerala Tourism at a glance

 

Domestic Tourist Arrival (Nos) in 2020 49,88,972

Domestic Tourist Arrival (Nos) in 2021 75,37,617

International Tourist Arrival (Nos) in 2020 3,40,755

International Tourist Arrival (Nos) in 2021 60,487

Total arrivals (Nos) in 2020 53,29,727

Total arrivals (Nos) in 2021 75,98,104

Total Revenue Generated (crore) in 2020 ₹11,335.96 crore

Total Revenue Generated (crore) in 2021 ₹12,285.91 crore

Foreign Exchange Earnings (crore) in 2020 ₹2799.85 crore

Foreign Exchange Earnings (crore) in 2021 ₹461.50 crore

Earnings from Domestic Tourists (crore) in 2020 ₹6025.68 crore

Earnings from Domestic Tourists (crore) in 2021 ₹9103.93 crore

Source: Department of Tourism, GoK

   

              From 2012 to 2013 and in 2015 and 2019, the growth rate in Kerala for foreign tourist arrivals was higher than that of India. It was lower than the national average in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018. The number of foreign tourists who visited Kerala in 2019 was 11,89,771 as against 10,96,407 foreign tourists in 2018, recording 8.52 per cent growth in foreign tourist arrivals in the State as compared to 2018. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism industry, 2020 and 2021 are showing a negative growth rate in the arrival of foreign tourists. Month-wise foreign tourist arrival in India and Kerala in 2020 and 2021 is given below:   

 

 

Month

No. of FTAs in 2020

No. of FTAs in 2021

India

Kerala

India

Kerala

January

1119250

174439

94662

4298

February

1018440

125523

110312

4167

March

328304

33245

133768

6024

April

2820

707

78718

987

May

3764

75

19765

169

June

8590

60

36070

298

July

12655

188

72501

4054

August

19761

373

92728

4349

September

28167

406

115661

5066

October

41494

1041

191415

7944

November

70977

2167

263867

10886

December

90544

2531

317647

12245

Total

2744766

340755

1527114

60487

Source: Department of Tourism, Kerala

  

District-wise Foreign Tourist Arrivals

 

                   For the last few years Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram districts of Kerala recorded largest foreign tourist arrivals in the State. In 2021, 46,821 foreign tourists visited Ernakulam whereas it was 1,34,952 in 2020. In the case of Thiruvananthapuram, 8262 foreign tourists visited the District in 2021 and 90,550 in 2020. The districts with least number of foreign tourist arrivals were Palakkad (41) and Pathanamthitta (72) in 2021. The scenario is the same in 2020 also. Details are given below:   

 

District wise Foreign Tourist Arrivals

District

No. of Foreign Tourists

2020

2021

2022 (upto 30th June )

Thiruvananthapuram

90550

8262

26430

Kollam

5141

77

140

Pathanamthitta

659

72

141

Alappuzha

46629

777

2064

Kottayam

20072

365

1271

Idukki

20163

591

3583

Ernakulam

134952

46821

64863

Thrissur

3416

463

1781

Palakkad

742

41

142

Malappuram

4100

553

1801

Kozhikode

5262

2074

2893

Wayanad

4131

164

404

Kannur

2754

81

290

Kasaragod

2184

146

157

TOTAL

340755

60487

105960

Source : Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala

 

                  Region-wise figures of foreign tourists visiting in the State shows that in 2021, about 79.82 per cent of the total foreign tourists visited central part of Kerala and only 4.98 per cent visited Northern part and 15.19 per cent visited southern part of Kerala. In 2020, about 52 per cent of the total foreign tourists visited central part of Kerala, 42 per cent visited southern part of the State and 6 per cent visited northern Kerala. The region-wise arrival of foreign tourists in Kerala in 2021 are given below:

 

Region-wise foreign tourist visits in Kerala in 2021, in per cent  

 

 Source: Department of Tourism, GoK

 

Domestic Tourists

 

                 The number of domestic tourist arrivals to Kerala in 2021 was 75,37,617 which is 51.09 per cent higher than the previous year. In 2020, the domestic tourist arrival to Kerala was 49,88,972. The number of domestic tourist arrivals up to June 30, 2022 is 88,95,593. The table reveals the trends in the arrival of domestic tourists in Kerala during the period 2012-2021.

 

Flow of Domestic Tourist to Kerala (upto June 2022)

Year

Number of Tourists

Percentage variation over the previous year

2012

10076854

7.41

2013

10,857,811

7.75

2014

11695411

7.71

2015

12465571

6.59

2016

13172535

5.67

2017

14673520

11.39

2018

15604661

6.35

2019

18384233

17.81

2020

4988972

-72.86

2021

7537617

51.09

2022 (August 2022)

8895593

222.23*

Source : Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala,

* Comparison based on June 30,2022

 

Annual growth rates in the arrival of domestic tourists in Kerala

from 2012 to 2021, in per cent

 

 

                  The State had been witnessing a steady growth rate with respect to domestic tourist arrivals during 2012-2014. In 2015, the growth rate was 6.59 per cent, which dropped to 5.67 per cent in 2016. But the year 2017 recorded 11.39 per cent growth in the arrival of domestic tourists in the State which dropped again in 2018 and reached 6.35 per cent. But in 2019, the State witnessed 17.81 per cent growth in domestic tourist arrival. But in 2020, due to COVID-19 pandemic, domestic tourist arrivals has registered a negative growth of 72.86 per cent which recovered up to 51.09 per cent increase in 2021.

 

Domestic Tourists Arrivals

 

                  The month-wise data on the arrival of domestic tourists in Kerala in 2021 shows that the highest inflow of tourists was for the month of December and the lowest was in the month of May. Details are given below:

 

Month-wise arrival of domestic tourists in Kerala for the last three years

Sl. No.

Month

No. of Domestic Tourists Arrival

2019

2020

2021

1

January

15,15,551

17,25,291

7,88,185

2

February

13,35,665

13,83,951

7,28,204

3

March

13,39,252

590,661

6,83,801

4

April

16,13,257

3,391

3,73,290

5

May

18,18,986

7,370

66,711

6

June

13,41,496

29,233

1,20,473

7

July

14,30,508

40,389

4,14,189

8

August

13,21,175

61,151

6,26,792

9

September

14,68,337

1,26,358

7,18,945

10

October

15,94,093

2,10,431

8,55,682

11

November

16,52,880

3,29,091

9,29,262

12

December

19,53,023

4,81,655

12,32,083

Total

1,83,84,233

49,88,972

75,37,617

Source: Department of Tourism, GoK

 

District-wise Arrivals of Domestic Tourists

 

         Regarding the District-wise domestic tourist arrivals in Kerala, Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram were the leading districts in 2021. In 2020 also these two districts were in the top position. Pathanamthitta attracts the lowest number of domestic tourists. Details are given below:

 

District wise Domestic Tourist Arrivals

District

Year

2020

2021

2022 (up to 30th June )

Thiruvananthapuram

861130

1235570

1427565

Kollam

137228

209102

197350

Pathanamthitta

48960

95840

154215

Alappuzha

207507

353921

393796

Kottayam

139038

158922

200649

Idukki

503938

949574

1216632

Ernakulam

1103200

1587882

1900447

Thrissur

587599

659981

992965

Palakkad

152152

200801

235310

Malappuram

197629

342685

327241

Kozhikode

380559

567374

588905

Wayanad

347625

703871

701952

Kannur

246400

346406

406654

Kasaragod

76007

125688

151912

TOTAL

4988972

7537617

8895593

Source : Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala

 

             Region-wise details show that more number of domestic tourists visited central parts of Kerala for the last three years.

 

Region-wise domestic tourist visits in Kerala in 2021

 

 

 Source: Economic Review 2022

 

World Heritage Site

 

 

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