The Kerala government has unveiled a new heli-tourism policy aimed at enhancing accessibility to tourist destinations across the state. The policy was approved at the weekly cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, as reported by IANS and shared by several online news outlets.
Under this new initiative, the state plans to establish a helicopter network connecting various tourist locations, providing tourists with a quicker and more convenient way to access these destinations. The introduction of this policy will also include the creation of essential infrastructure for helicopter services, such as heliports, stations, and helipads, to support the network.
The government anticipates that with this comprehensive policy in place, helicopter operators will show renewed interest in launching services that link Kerala’s popular tourist spots. “With a clear-cut policy now on the use of helicopters in tourism, there is going to be renewed interest from the helicopter operators to commence operations linking the numerous tourism spots,” said a government spokesperson.
Tourism has long been a major contributor to Kerala’s economy, and the government expects the heli-tourism policy to attract significant private investment into the state. This move is seen as a catalyst to further boost the tourism industry, which continues to be a major revenue generator for the region.
The lack of a formal heli-tourism policy in the past had impacted some large-scale projects. Several prominent ayurveda operators, who had envisioned setting up luxury resorts offering ayurveda packages at scenic and serene locations, were forced to abandon their plans due to the absence of necessary infrastructure and regulations. This gap in policy, however, is now being addressed with the launch of the heli-tourism initiative.
The Kerala Tourism Department has been consistently working on diversifying and refining its tourism offerings. Over the years, the state has seen the growth of unique attractions like houseboats, caravan tourism, and adventure tourism, with increasing demands for a well-organized helicopter tourism framework to cater to the influx of visitors. “Over the years, the Kerala Tourism Department has been fine-tuning their much in-demand products like houseboats, caravan tourism, promoting adventure destinations, and all the time there were demands of having a well-planned policy for operations of helicopters,” noted an industry insider.
Last year, Kerala experienced a significant surge in tourism, with 2.1 crore domestic tourists visiting the state. The number of international tourists also saw a remarkable increase, reaching 649,000. The Kerala Tourism Board has set an ambitious target for this year, aiming to attract 2.2 crore domestic tourists and 800,000 international visitors. “The Kerala government is expecting to host 2.2 crore domestic and 8 lakh international travellers this financial year,” the Tourism Minister, P.A. Mohammed Riyas, stated.
While the tourism sector faced a challenging period due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, the outlook for the industry is now improving. Under the leadership of Tourism Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas, the state government is introducing innovative policies aimed at revitalizing the sector and making Kerala an even more attractive destination for both domestic and international travelers. The heli-tourism policy is expected to play a significant role in this rejuvenation.
As Kerala works to boost its tourism industry post-pandemic, the introduction of this heli-tourism policy is seen as a step forward in modernizing the state’s tourism infrastructure. With the combined potential of enhanced accessibility, new investments, and a growing range of tourist experiences, the state aims to solidify its position as a top travel destination in India and beyond.
