Kerala Travel Mart off to a colourful start

The Kerala Travel Mart 2002 got off to a colourful start in Kochi yesterday. The state Chief Minister A. K. Antony, who inaugurated the show, emphasised how the travel market stood out as an example of what a joint effort by the public and private sectors could achieve.

"The strong partnership between the public and private sectors can provide the synergy for the rapid growth of tourism in the state," Antony said in his address.

This year, apart from tourism product and service providers from Kerala who have taken up stalls at the show, there is also participation from neighbouring states namely Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Karnataka.

Earlier the show began with a grand cultural programme that showcased various folk and classical arts of the state.

This is the second edition of the travel mart, the first being held two years back. This year the show is on a larger scale, with 140 stalls displaying various tourism products of the state ranging from beaches and hill stations to backwater cruises and tree houses.

The stalls have been taken up by resort operators, tour operators and ayurveda centre operators from the state.

Organisers said this year's mart had got an overwhelming response from many countries, including a delegation of 20 buyers from Milan, which is more than four times the size of their representation in the previous Kerala Travel Mart.

The mart has also attracted participation by Denmark, Korea, Mauritius, Nepal, Greece, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Singapore, Sweden and Sri Lanka.

The Indian Association of Tour Operators, Travel Agents Association of India, Pacific Asia Travel Association, Federation of Hotels and Restaurants Association of India, and the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India are in association with the Kerala Tourism in organising the mart.

All major airlines have extended their support to the mart and the leading hotels in Kochi are offering complimentary accommodation in over 400 rooms to the delegates.

Information counters have also been set up for the benefit of buyers at all the three international airports in the state.