There is some good news for the south Indian state of Kerala on the occasion of World Tourism Day. The God’s Own Country has witnessed record foreign and domestic tourist arrivals in the first half of the year, a pleasant deviation from that of the previous years.

A total of 1,05, 960 visited the biodiversity-rich state in the first six months of this year as against a mere 15, 943 in the entire 2021. The domestic arrivals too recorded an enormous increase. As many as 88, 95, 593 people from other states flocked to the state, blessed with exotic beaches, cool hill stations, enchanting waterfalls, beautiful lagoons, meandering rivers, and amazing natural scenarios. Last year, 27, 60, 664 domestic tourists arrived in the state.

Most number of international tourists visited Ernakulam (64, 863) and Thiruvananthapuram (26,430). The commercial capital again topped the list of domestic tourist arrivals with 19,00, 447 people visiting the central region, followed by Thiruvananthapuram (14, 27, 565) and Idukki (12, 16, 632).

Most tourist arrivals were recorded in the months of May and June.

Meanwhile, Travel and Hospitality are becoming the focal sectors in the incubation activities of Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), which is promoting such firms in a big way, acknowledging their bright prospects.

Online marketplace Campper, a one-stop shop for campsites that are verified, well-equipped, and secured, is a leading KSUM-groomed startup, while Voye Homes and Tentgram function with a vision beyond book-and-stay operators.

“Kerala has for a quarter century been a major tourism destination of national as well as global reputation. Right now, there is further change to that culture, with Covid-19 having almost subsided and the world returning to near-normalcy,” KSUM Chief Executive Officer Anoop Ambika said. “Now with the monsoon rains over, the state is experiencing a strong inflow of tourists. This will benefit the tourism and hospitality industries.”

Aiming at capitalizing on the resurgence of the tourism industry, KSUM-incubated six-year-old Campper has listed around 200 campsites in southern India. With its emphasis on enabling travelers to stay close to nature and inculcating the spirit of responsible tourism, www.campper.com facilitates the hassle-free booking of sites for campers and promises them experiential tourism.

Kozhikode-based Voye Homes promotes private holiday homes owned by corporate brands, celebrities and HNIs. The facilities particularly benefit those looking for safe and private villas to spend their vacations peacefully with friends or family by avoiding jam-packed hotels and resorts. It currently operates in 11 destinations spread across the Deccan with over 50 properties and 268 rooms.

Tentgram, started in 2017 with its headquarters in Munnar, is an outdoor recreational centre that provides overnight stays with outdoor experiences at an affordable budget package. It also holds experiential activities such as kayaking, zip lining, and trekking.

‘Rethinking Tourism’ is the theme of World Tourism Day 2022.