Kerala plans wellness tourism conclave to boost interest

Kerala's Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas announced that the state will host a wellness tourism conclave soon. This event will be organized by the Tourism department in collaboration with the Health department. The goal is to tap into the growing popularity of global wellness tourism, especially after the pandemic. Riyas noted that Kerala has great potential in wellness tourism due to its rich heritage in Ayurveda. The conclave will serve as a platform for tour operators and other stakeholders to discuss and promote wellness tourism in the state. In addition to wellness tourism, the state is focusing on MICE tourism, which stands for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions. Riyas mentioned that Kerala is becoming an attractive destination for MICE events. A MICE tourism conclave will take place in Kochi later this year, organized by Kerala Travel Mart and industry partners. The Minister also addressed ongoing controversies related to water sports in beach tourism. He expressed concern that these issues could benefit competitors from other states. Kerala is seeking exemptions from Coastal Regulation Zone norms to boost beach tourism and plans to promote adventure and water sports to attract more visitors.