The Hindu Business Line : Kerala mulls budget airline

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the launch of Kerala Tourism's `Vazhiyoram' project and to distribute the Kerala State Tourism Awards, he said that the State Government was in the process of taking the preliminary steps required to launch a budget airline.

The idea is to launch the airline as a public-private partnership modelled on the lines of the Cochin International Airport Ltd, he added.

Tourism is among the most important economic and development activities in the State.

However, high airfares - particularly domestic airfares - to Kerala are proving to be an impediment to the growth of the State's tourism industry, Mr Chandy said.

The State Government is looking at various options to reduce airfares to Kerala. As part of this effort, it is working with the Central Government to get more low-cost airlines to operate to Kerala, he added.

Lauding the private sector for its role in promoting Kerala as a high-quality tourism destination, the Chief Minister said that the State Government would do all it can to help the sector.

The Government will focus on providing the infrastructure required for the tourism sector to flourish in Kerala, he added.

The State's fourth airport, which is to be established in Kannur, is part of this effort.

The Kerala Tourism Minister, Mr K.C. Venugopal, said that the Tourism Department was focusing on ensuring the sustainable development of tourism in the State.

At the same time it is working to improve the quality of the experience that tourists get in Kerala and also to ensure that tourism benefits local communities, he added.

The Vazhiyoram project is one such initiative, the Minister said. More than 1,200 applications have been received from prospective investors keen on participating in the project.

The initiative is intended to provide basic facilities such as restaurants, toilets, and telephone booths along the important highways in the State.

The objective is to set up 250 such units across Kerala in association with the private sector.

Vazhiyoram units will be classified into three categories based on the size of each unit and the facilities available.

The Tourism Department has tied up with SBI to provide loans to those who want to invest in the project.

Kerala Tourism has also developed a series of advertisements to promote the project and has roped in film star, Jayaram, as its brand ambassador. Mr Chandy also distributed the Kerala State Tourism Awards for 2003-04.

Thirty-two awards were presented in various categories such as best tour operator, best performing arts centre, best tourist guide, and best tourism-related publication.

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