Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has announced the launch of a new heli-tourism policy following a cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
This policy aims to establish a helicopter network connecting various tourist destinations across the state, making them more accessible to visitors. It includes plans for building essential infrastructure such as heliports, stations, and helipads.
With this clear policy framework, the government anticipates renewed interest from helicopter operators to start services linking Kerala’s many tourism sites. Tourism has long been a key industry in Kerala, and the new heli-tourism policy is expected to attract significant private investment.
Previously, the absence of such a policy had led some major ayurveda operators to abandon plans for luxurious resorts offering wellness packages in tranquil locations. The Kerala Tourism Department has been enhancing popular offerings like houseboats and caravan tourism while responding to demands for a structured helicopter operation policy.
In the past year, Kerala saw a record influx of domestic tourists, with 2.1 crore visitors, alongside 649,000 international travelers, according to data from the Kerala Tourism Board. The government aims to welcome 2.2 crore domestic and 800,000 international tourists this financial year.
The tourism sector, which was severely impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic, is now showing signs of recovery, thanks in part to innovative policies spearheaded by Tourism Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas.