31 Foreign Tourists Reach Kerala in 16 Caravans

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Kerala’s caravan tourism got a major boost with a global travel group of 31 foreign tourists reaching the state in 16 caravans.

The group, which is on a 50,000-km ‘automobile expedition’ from Istanbul in Turkey to Darwin, Australia, paid a brief visit to Kerala to enjoy some of the enchanting tourism destinations in the state, including a cruise in the backwaters of Alappuzha.

Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas who received the foreign travellers in the state capital said their visit reaffirms the state’s caravan policy moving in the right direction.

“In a scenario when Kerala is expecting a spike in the flow of foreign tourists after the pandemic, the visit of this global travel group gives a ray of hope to the tourism sector in the state. It has also widened the scope of the state’s caravan tourism policy,” he added.

The minister said the caravan policy, which is being implemented with the cooperation of various other departments, would help in the revival of the tourism sector.

Welcoming the foreign tourists to Kerala, Riyas expressed his gratitude for including Kerala in their travel itinerary.

The group of 31 travellers who reached Kerala on Sunday had a good time experiencing a relaxing cruise in the backwaters of Alappuzha.

The team also visited Kumily and Thekkady and had a boating safari in Thekkady.

Lauding Kerala’s efforts to promote caravan tourism, the travellers expressed happiness about the hospitality of its people and appreciated the state’s infrastructure and transport facilities.

In the road trip that started in July 2022, there are 31 travellers – 16 from Switzerland, 14 from Germany, and one from Russia. They expect to travel through 17 countries in 365 days.

Besides two Indian tour guides, a four-member team of tour operators from Germany assist the team’s journey.

These travel enthusiasts have been travelling across the globe in caravans for the past several years. Germany-based tour operator Abenteur Touren has organized this caravan trip.

After visiting different countries stretching across Asia, the group entered India via the Wagah border of Punjab.

The group leaving Kerala will head to Kanyakumari today. After visiting different places in India, they will be going to Nepal via Kolkata.

Currently, the team’s journey in India from Wagah border (Punjab) Amritsar, covered Chandigarh, Delhi, Bharatpur, Agra, Jaipur, Pushkar, Deshnok, Jaisalmer, Siner, Jodhpur, Ranakpur, Udaipur, Ujjain, Mandu, Ajanta, Ellora, Mumbai, Goa, Badami, Hampi, and Mysuru.