Kerala’s tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran has said that the state’s tourism sector has incurred a loss of Rs 15,000 crore due to the coronavirus induced lockdown.
The minister said that a rejuvenation package for tourism in the state has been prepared and will be implemented to attract tourists to the state after the COVID-19 crisis ends.
“The state has incurred Rs 15,000 crore loss in tourism sector. We have prepared a project and submitted it to the Chief Minister in this regard. We are planning to bring a rejuvenation package for the tourism sector in the state,” Surendran said.
He said that the state government has already given several relaxations and only places which require close contact like barber shops, beauty parlours and health clubs are closed for now.
“It will take some time to make tourist destinations in the state active. Tourists have to come. But currently, even the people within the state cannot move freely. We are waiting for the first suitable occasion to implement the package,” Surendran said.
People coming from other states and foreign countries need to be put under quarantine to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the minister said.
Kerala Tourism is one of the leading tourism brands in the country, with revenues of around Rs 45,000 crore.
