Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala attracted 2,22,46,989 tourists in 2024, which marked a substantial increase of 21 per cent from the pre-pandemic period, Minister for Tourism, Shri P A Mohamed Riyas told the State Assembly today.
This huge upsurge in tourist arrivals shows that in the last couple of years, the state has been erasing its previous record in the arrival of tourists, the Minister informed the house during the Question Hour.
The K-Homes project, announced in the 2025-26 state budget for increasing accommodation for tourists by making use of unoccupied homes near major destinations, will be implemented initially at Kovalam, Kumarakom, Munnar and Fort Kochi, the Minister said.
The K-Homes project will take the growth of tourism to new heights, as it offers the tourists a comfortable stay and a hands-on feel of local culture and cuisine. Special arrangements will be made for the implementation of the K-Homes project including online booking of stays in K-Homes, the Minister said.
The K-Homes project is expected to strengthen Kerala’s hospitality sector. The state already has a large number of five-star and premium hotels while Government Rest Houses provide affordable and clean accommodation options for tourists. In the initial phase, the project will be implemented within a radius of 10 km in the selected destinations, he said.
A project to bring women stakeholders in the tourism sector under a single umbrella has been drawn up as part of initiatives to strengthen women-friendly tourism. So far, 17631 women have registered under the project through the Responsible Tourism Mission Society. They include tour operators, homestay owners, drivers and other tourism entrepreneurs.
The Global Women Conference on Gender Inclusive and Responsible Tourism held in Munnar presented before the world the successful Kerala model in this trendy segment, he added.