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The Economic Times Online Kerala’s ready for record-breaking tourist season IANS[ MONDAY, NOVEMBER 08, 2004 01:41:20 AM] THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With heavy bookings being reported for the tourist season beginning mid-November, the Kerala government and the travel industry expect to outdo last year's record. “Initial booking reports reveal this season is going to be better than last year,” tourism minister KC Venugopal said. “We also expect it to be an extended season this year. Both the government and the industry are geared up.” KC Chandrahasan of Kerala Travels Interserve, a leading tour operator that has handled names like the Kennedys, Paul McCartney and prince of Saudi Arabia, said his bookings showed this season may register as much as a 50% increase. “We are concentrating on new markets this year, and are hopeful of getting tourists in large numbers from Australia and Russia, besides the usual markets in Europe,” Chandrahasan said. “Only last week, a group of 16 retailers led by Wand, the biggest tour operator in Russia, went around Kerala. They are expected to bring in a good number of tourists towards the beginning of ‘05.” The state is not going to let go of its regular visitors either. Koshy John, a professional tourist guide, has just returned from a two-month visit to Germany and France, two of Kerala’s biggest sources of tourists. “German tourists have always been our mainstay,” John said. “And from the feedback I got, the number of tourists from both Germany and France is going to be huge.” Tomy Pulikattil, who owns a fleet of houseboats in Alappuzha, also said bookings were much better than in the last season. “For the first time, we are also getting a good response from Arabs. There is no doubt the current season will be better than any season in the past,” Pulikattil said. The hotel industry is ready. Jose Dominic, who spearheads operations at CGH Earth, formerly Casino Group of Hotels, said they had invested Rs 5 crore in refurbishing three premium properties at vintage tourist spots in the state. “My brand new property at Palakkad, called Kalari Kovilakam, is built at a cost of Rs 10 crore, and is also ready. There is no doubt this season is going to be Kerala's best ever. I can see that from my bookings,” he said. The government will play the role of a facilitator. 'Destination Cleaning' has been launched for cleaning up all important tourist spots on a daily basis, said Venugopal. “We are also giving finishing touches to maintain public comfort stations at important destinations,” the minister said. The tourist season in Kerala begins in mid-November, peaks in early January before tapering towards the middle of March. The last season was the best the state has ever had, recording a turnover of more than $1.3bn. Nearly 300,000 foreign tourists visited Kerala last season, a jump of almost 30%. A record 5.9m domestic tourists also visited. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Check out the new Yahoo! Front Page. www.yahoo.com