TOURISM INDIA MARCH 2019 TOURISM INDIA MARCH 2019 | Page 34

N E W S / NAT I O NA L
KERALA TOURISM HOLDS
TRADE MEETS IN USA
USA IS THE SECOND LARGEST MARKET FOR KERALA TOURISM AFTER EUROPE
I
n an aggressive bid to
cement its position as a top
international destination,
Kerala Tourism held a string of
trade meets in major cities of USA,
showcasing its signature assets
before leading stakeholders of travel
and tourism industry that drew an
enthusiastic response in American
markets.
New Jersey, Chicago, Houston and
Los Angeles were the four American
cities where Kerala Tourism held trade
meets during February.
“USA is the second largest market
for Kerala Tourism after Europe. The
four trade meets that were conducted
there were part of a concerted
campaign to tap the full potential of
American travel market. In particular,
the campaign was aimed at tapping the
premium segment of travellers from
USA,” said Kerala Tourism Minister
Mr.Kadakampally Surendran.
“We also wanted to send out a
strong message to American travellers
and prominent stakeholders of travel
and hospitality industry that Kerala
has fully overcome the impact of last
year’s floods and is ready to receive the
guests with an array of new products
and fascinating destinations,” he
added.
Tourism Secretary Mrs. Rani George,
who led the trade meets, said Kerala
may be a long-haul destination but
its touristy charm has remained
undiminished for travellers from
America.
There has been a consistent uptick
in the number of American travellers
visiting Kerala. In 2018, the number
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Tourism India March 2019
of tourists from USA visiting God’s
Own Country was pegged at 96,522
compared to 75,773 in 2015. The
number of total international arrivals
to Kerala in 2018 was 10, 96,407.
This was the fourth trade meet of
Kerala Tourism in USA which was
aimed at attracting high-spender
tourists from that country. The number
of attendees at B2B meets during the
trade meets were 40 at New Jersey, 58
at Chicago; 56 at Houston; and 63 at
Los Angeles.
“The trade meets generated a very
positive and good response. Kerala
Tourism unveiled new destinations
and tourism products during meetings
with tour operators to woo American
travellers and make them aware of
magnificent holiday options in the
state which provides not just a vacation
but also a lifetime cultural experience,”
she added.
The chief guests at the trade meets
in USA were Mr. Shatrughna Sinha,
Deputy Consul General, Consulate
General of India in New Jersey;Mrs.
Neeta Bhushan, Consul General in
NEW JERSEY, CHICAGO,
HOUSTON AND LOS ANGELES
WERE THE FOUR AMERICAN
CITIES WHERE KERALA
TOURISM HELD TRADE
MEETS DURING FEBRUARY.
Chicago; Dr Anupam Ray, Consul
General, Houston; and Mra.i. Rohit
Rathish , Deputy Consul General, San
Francisco.
India Tourism also joined in all
the trade meets and extended their
unconditional support. As part of the
trade meets, ‘Go Kerala Contest’ was
conducted where Air India provided
two airline tickets per city to the
winners for a FAM trip to Kerala.
Kerala Tourism has chalked out a
series of trade meets in international
markets in a bid to substantially to
increase footfalls in the state. Earlier
this year, it held trade meets in Rome
(January), Vienna (January), Zurich
(February) and Prague (February).