Thiruvananthapuram: The state government will not announce any change in the liquor policy at the start of the ninth edition of Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) on September 27 in Kochi. “If foreign and domestic guests have reservations about the liquor policy, we will take note of it,” tourism minster A C Moideen said here on Wednesday. “Any change in liquor policy has to be a political decision and therefore the opinions collected at the KTM will be put before the Cabinet before a decision is taken,” the minister said.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the event at Hotel Le Meridien on September 27, on World Tourism Day. The three-day trade event will be held at the Samudrika and Sagara Convention Centre, Willingdon Island, from September 28 to 30. KTM will have representation from 57 foreign countries, including 10 first-time participants.
“The ninth edition of the biennial event will focus on ‘Responsible Tourism (RT)’ and ‘Muziris and Spice Route,” said tourism minister A C Moideen. “We will see the biggest-ever delegate contingents from 10 traditional markets – including the US, Canada and Australia – at the KTM this time,” he said. “We are confident that KTM 2016 will be a great success in showcasing Kerala to the world, strengthen the brand image of ‘God’s Own Country’ and help our state’s tourism industry grow even bigger,” he said.
The new entrants to KTM include China, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Georgia, Chile, Greece, Iran and Botswana. Domestic buyers from 20 Indian states are also participating in the event, considered to be the country’s biggest travel show focused on a single destination.
KTM 2016 is being organized by the Kerala Travel Mart Society in association with the Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala. “Private-public partnership is the main highlight of KTM. We have support from both the state and central ministry, with the state government setting aside Rs 2 crores for KTM,” said Dr V Venu, tourism principal secretary.
