Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan has announced a series of tourism projects, including a cruise terminal in north Kerala, an oceanarium and international maritime museum in Kochi, and permanent venues for the Kochi-Muziris Biennale and International Film Festival.
Speaking at the inauguration of the three-day Kerala Travel Mart (KTM), Satheesan said tourism would be a major component of the state’s development strategy, with a focus on promoting Kerala’s biodiversity, maritime heritage and cultural legacy.
The government plans to integrate Kerala’s ports and expand coastal tourism to reduce dependence on road transport. Satheesan said Kerala has two international seaports, one container terminal, 18 minor ports and around 600 km of coastline.
Permission has been given to Cochin Port to develop a cruise terminal, while another cruise terminal is planned in the Kozhikode region. The government is also exploring cruise services connecting Kerala with Dubai, Goa, the Maldives and Sri Lanka, with a long-term plan to operate cruise vessels from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram.
In the second phase, the cruise network is proposed to be linked with Kerala’s 44 rivers to introduce river cruise tourism.
Satheesan also outlined plans to develop Kerala as an aviation hub, leveraging its four international airports. An international global convention centre is being developed near Kochi airport, which he said is planned as a highly modern facility.
The proposed oceanarium and international maritime museum in Kochi are aimed at showcasing Kerala’s marine ecosystem and maritime history, including the legacy of the ancient Muziris port.