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Tourism is one of the fastest growing industries in the world today. India in general and Kerala in particular have been major beneficiaries of this tourist boom. According to a recent survey, the foreign exchange earned by Kerala's tourism industry increased by 20 per cent, with the inflow of tourists going up 15-20 per cent in 2006 compared to 2005. Kerala was judged the Best Tourism Performing State in 2005. All this can be attributed to the state’s beauty, especially its enthralling backwaters and lush greenery, scenic beaches and high ranges, colourful festivals, marvellous art forms and the hospitable, courteous and friendly people. With the innovative products and packages from the active entrepreneurs, the possibilities of development in this sector have increased to a big extent.
With this increase in visitors, the number of entrepreneurs entering the tourist industry in the State has also gone up considerably,
e specially in the field of infrastructure creation. Not only has the hotel accommodation increased quantitatively, but also qualitatively, i.e., the variety of tourist packages offered range from home stays, backwater resorts and beach luxury hotels to ecotourism, forest treks and jungle holidays, not forgetting the growth of health and wellness tourism to cater to the growing corporate demand. Currently, Kerala has an acute shortage of rooms in the season and the shortage is being met by the homestay facilities developed throughout the state.
Kerala will shortly be experiencing a boom in the hospitality sector with many of the reputed national and international players coming in. Huge investments from hotel groups like Holiday Inn owned by Intercontinental group, Crown Plaza, Ramada, Banyan Tree, Preferred, Hilton, Carlton, Middle East Hotel Company, and other Indian biggies like Taj and Hinduja will be selling their products in the God’s Own Country.
Indroyal, a subsidiary of the Royal group in UAE, is bringing up a 100 crore five star hotel at Kochi in association with Intercontinental hotels. This 253-room hotel will be one of the tallest hotels in South India. David Renn, the renowned British architect will be designing the interiors of this landmark hotel. Apart from this, a five star and a four star hotel which will further add to Kochi’s glory will be starting their operations by the end of 2007. Another 35 crore four star deluxe 140-room hotel of the Middle East hotels group was scheduled to start up in middle of 2007. The group will also be starting an eco tourism cottage in Alleppey. Maradu near Kochi will have another five star hotel after Le Meridien by Crown Plaza. Ramada will be featuring a resort in the mind-blowing surroundings of Kumbala in association with Synthite Ventures. Other Kochi hotels projects in the pipeline are 120 crore five star hotel project, near Lake Shore Hospital by the Behsad Group headed by Mr. C.A. Menon, Preferred’s project in the island near the city and Service Apartment by Carlton along with the SRK group in Kakkanad.
The heritage property, Travancore Court, owned by renowned cine actor Mohanlal and an NRI business man, Mohammed Ashraf has started its services.
The Muthoot Papachan group is expanding its wings in the hospitality industry with a property each at Nedumbassery and Infopark, Kochi. Mini Muthoot is also debuting into the hospitality industry with a five star project. Aitken Spence, one of the leading hotel chains in Sri Lanka, will debut its first project in Cochin, in association with Flotels India, headed by Mr. M.R. Narayanan who currently owns Poovar Island Resort and Comfort Inn Grand in Trivandrum.
The special tourism zones, namely, Munnar, Thekkady, Kumarakom, Kochi and Kovalam have sustained their place in the travellers list, resulting in further development in the hospitality sector in these places. Banyan Tree is planning a 100 crore property at Kumarakom while the Radisson and Thomson groups will be featuring a spa and a five star hotel respectively. Abad Group will be erecting three properties: at Munnar, Thekkady and Marrarikkulam. Other hot players like Chancellor, Kingfisher are introducing its services in Munnar. The EVM group is also introducing a property in Munnar. Elephant Court Resorts by the Vijaya group and another resort by the Edassery group are other significant names in Thekkady and Kumarakom.
In the Malabar sector, more vibrant projects are on the line with the immense potential of the place. There is enough room for the packages including adventure tourism and jungle tourism especially in Wayanad. Leela, Oberoi and Holiday Inn will be showcasing their new properties at Bekal. The Grand Bekal Resort by Intercontinental hotels will also boost Bekal as a famed destination. ATE Group of Companies headed by Mr. E.M. Najeeb will also be featuring one resort at Bekal and another at Munnar. Thrissur, the cultural capital of Kerala will also have more high end properties shortly. A luxury beach resort at Nattika beach, Trichur is also planned by Mr. Ranith Mathew, the owner of Coconut Bay Beach Resort, Kovalam. Another five star property at Wayanad owned by Mr. N.K. Mohammed, MD, Kadavu Resorts, will also be a fine project in the beautiful surroundings of Wayanad. Oyster Opera at Paddana in Kasaragode owned by Mr. Gul Mohammad is a theme village with mussel and oyster farming. Neelambari Resort and Spa, in Kanhangad, Kasaragode has been opened in association with the Kingfisher group.
Measures are also being taken by the government and others to attract investment in this sector from the non-resident Indians.
Classic Avenue, a four star business hotel, a three star project by the owners of SP Fort Hospital, a three star property by Southern Hospitality Group, which owns Park Field, Bangalore at Cotton hill, a luxury property by Berggruen hotels at Housing Board Junction, a five star property at Golf Links by the RR Hospitality group which owns Udaya Samudra, Kovalam and a five star property by Dodla Enterprises which is scheduled to commence its operations by 2008 are the major projects in Trivandrum city.
Other resorts which started thier operations in 2007 include Wild Corridor, Thekkady and Blue Ginger, Wayanad. Maria Heritage Home and Spa in Pulinkunnu started operations in February this year. Contour Backwater Resort in Changanassery will be opening by the middle of 2008. Bailey’s luxury beach cottages at Varkala by Bailey Jacob of Nikki’s Nest will be opening by 2008. Vembanad Lake villas at Vaikom, Green Park hotel at Cochin, Autumn Trees, Devikulam, Munnar and Blue Bell Resort, Munnar have started their operations in the recent past.
Another resort in Poovar named Over the Hill, constructed by the renowned environment architect Mr. Syriac, has already started its operations. Two properties of Joy’s Resorts owned by Mr. Chacko Paul, MD, Travancore Heritage will be open by 2008 in Kollam District. A five star luxury resort will be started south of Poovar by 2008. The hotel will be opened by a NRI group in association with Indian Tour Planners, Germany. A luxury backwater resort by will also be unveiling the backwater beauty of Kollam. The project owned by Mr. Rajamohan Pillai will be completed by the end of 2007. Saj Hotels and Resorts, owned by Mr. Sajan Joseph will be featuring Kumarakom Laguna, Kuttanad Heritage and Marari Bay situated at Kumarakom, Alleppey and Mararikulam in the near future. Saj Earth Resort, Kochi will be opening by August 2007.
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