Kerala eyeing Punjab, Chandigarh tourists

02,Feb,2010(IANS): Chandigarh: Kerala is exploring the markets of Punjab and Chandigarh to woo tourists to Gods Own Country.

"Chandigarh and Punjab are unexplored markets. This is one of the most potential region where many rich people reside who really love to spend money and to travel places. To capitalise on this fact, we are significantly focusing on this area," Kerala tourism department deputy director Suresh Kumar told IANS.

Kerala Tourism Partnership Meet

As part of its marketing efforts to attract more domestic tourists to Kerala, the Tourism Department is preparing to launch a three-month long publicity campaign in different states this year. Titled ‘Kerala Tourism Partnership Meet’, the meetings will be conducted across several cities in the coming months.Tour operators, hoteliers, tourism entrepreneurs and others will take part in the meet. The purpose is to increase tourist traffic to the state which saw a decline last year owing to the economic meltdown

Event schedule for the month of February:

Feb.1  – Chandigarh

Feb.23 - Chennai

Feb.25 - Bangalore

Feb.27 - Hyderabad

Superfast express gets Kerala identity 

In a first of its kind tourism ad campaign, the country’s elite superfast train Rajdhani Express running Nizamuddin-Thiruvananthapuram-Nizamuddin has donned the greasepaint of God’s Own Country, featuring the best of nature that includes golden beaches, blue green backwaters, serene hill stations and fascinating art forms. The train whose coaches display the vibrant colours of Kerala will be flagged off by union minister Kumari Selja at a function at the Nizamuddin station here on Sunday. State minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Tourism director M. Shivshankar and others will witness the flagging off ceremony in the capital. The venture is seen as a fitting tribute to the States rich natural resources.