The remarkable growth in number of foreign tourists visiting the state seems to be skewed in favour of south and central Kerala.
Malabar region portrays a dismal picture despite having some of the best tourist destinations, according to figures of department of tourism.
Though the rate of foreign tourists visiting the state witnessed a 11.18% growth from 6,59,265 in 2010 to 7,32,985 in 2011, the contribution of north Kerala districts to this figure is abysmal (6.18%) as per a report in TOI by P. Sudhakaran.
In 2010, only 6.27% of the total foreign tourists who visited the state came to Malabar. The same for central Kerala is 55.94% and for south Kerala it is 38.69%.
The tourism department is yet to finalize a district-wise chart of the foreign and domestic tourist arrival for 2011. But officials say that a huge variation in the share from the Malabar region compared to the previous years is unlikely.
Domestic tourist arrival to Kerala during the year 2011 is 93,81,455. It showed an increase of 9.15% over the previous year's figure of 85,95,075. In 2010, the contribution of Malabar was around 27.27% and this year too the trend is the same, say the officials.
According to K Bhaskaran, deputy director, department of tourism, Kannur, Malabar lacks in all aspects of tourism from hygiene to hospitality.
"Malabar region has great destinations, but these places are not marketed properly. We have a notion that constructing huge buildings and resorts would boost tourism, which is not true. We have to develop destinations and the infrastructure and connectivity, where Malabar has failed miserably," he says.
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