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Updated - May 19, 2026 at 05:22 PM.

Kerala Travel Mart Society (KTM) has sought urgent attention to key issues concerning the tourism sector, including simplification of land conversion procedures and the improvement of public toilet infrastructure.

Welcoming the new state government led by Chief Minister V D Satheesan, KTM Society President Jose Pradeep said tourism, which contributes significantly to the state’s GDP and revenue, deserves higher priority from the government.

The sector benefits a wide range of stakeholders, including hotels, tour operators, tourist guides, taxi operators, and auto rickshaw drivers, while also generating substantial tax revenue for the state.

Although road connectivity has improved, the lack of clean public toilets remains a major concern for tourists, especially along routes to destinations such as Munnar and Wayanad. It forces tourists to depend largely on hotels for such facilities, he said.

Instead of going for micro projects across the State, mega tourism projects in each district, where tourism potential is there, may be envisaged and developed in line with the Muziris Heritage Project, Jatayu Earth Centre in Kollam, Sargalaya Craft Village in Vadakara etc.

One of the major bottlenecks in tourism development and private investment, he said, is the delay in land conversion procedures. Since any hotel or building project requires land conversion approval, the process often takes up to two years, creating a significant barrier to infrastructure development. This procedure, he stressed, must be made more transparent and time-efficient.

KTM Secretary S Swaminathan said the development of key tourism destinations must be taken up on an urgent basis. He regretted that Kovalam beach is currently facing a decline in standards, along with its associated facilities, and requires immediate development. The chronic traffic congestion and poor condition of the Wayanad Ghat road must also be addressed promptly by the government.

Noting that only about 40 per cent of the ₹300–350 crore allocated for tourism is actually being spent on the sector, Swaminathan said this practice of diverting tourism funds to projects of other departments for infrastructure development should be discontinued.

Instead, the funds should be exclusively used for tourism marketing, participation in national and international trade fairs, roadshows, and partnership meetings, which would help increase tourism revenue.

Published on May 19, 2026

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