Kerala Tourism’s Pavilion, featuring the state’s unique festivals and traditions, has made a big appeal at the 43^rd edition of World Travel Mart (WTM) London being held from November 7 to 9.

Minister of Tourism P A Muhammed Riyas, who is leading the delegation, inaugurated the pavilion.

The 120-sqm pavilion (AS 402) is themed “The Magical Every day”, showcasing the vibrant festival celebrations in God’s Own Country. A major attraction is the huge ‘Kettu Kala’, a gigantic effigy of a pair of bulls. The show has been attracting a steady stream of visitors.

K S Srinivas IAS, Principal Secretary, Tourism, P B Nooh, Director, Tourism, and K Rupeshkumar, State Coordinator, Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission, are among the dignitaries who are part of the delegation to the WTM London 2022, a meeting place for the global travel trade that attracts top travel destinations and tourism buyers and sellers from all over the world.

Kerala Tourism is participating in the three-day event with 10 trade partners–Alhind Tours and Travels, Pioneer Personalized Holidays, Trail Blazer Tours India, Abad Hotels and Resorts, Citrine Hospitality Ventures, Niraamaya Wellness Resorts, Reen Resorts, Sagara Beach Resort, Tamara Leisure Experiences, and Somatheeram Ayurveda Group.

The WTM is an important event given that India, especially Kerala, is attempting to step up the recovery of inbound tourism to the pre-pandemic level, and comes at a time when the travel world is opening up.

Meanwhile, in a celebration of the state’s sustainable tourism practices in the past 15 years, the WTM London is scheduled to feature a seminar on Kerala’s pioneering RT activities.

‘Looking Back, Moving Ahead: 15 Years of Kerala’s Responsible Tourism Journey’ is the title of the analytical session to be held on November 9, the last day of WTM London.

Riyas will deliver the inaugural address at the hour-long session. WTM Responsible Tourism Advisor Dr. Harold Goodwin will deliver the keynote address at the session. The panelists include RT Consultant Adama Bah and ICRT South Africa’s Transfrontier Parks Destinations Chief Executive Glynn O’ Leary. Srinivas will moderate the session while Nooh will deliver the welcome address. K Rupeshkumar will give a presentation on ‘Community Empowerment Through Responsible Tourism–Kerala Model’.