Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas opening the B2B meeting organised by the Tourism department in Kozhikode on January 19. Kerala Tourism director Sikha Surendran, District Collector Snehil Kumar Singh, and Oman vlogger Mohammed Al Balushi are also seen.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The Tourism department on Sunday (January 19) hosted a B2B (business-to-business) meet, Gateway to Malabar, at Raviz Kadavu, Kozhikode, aiming to foster new tourism circuits linking key destinations in northern Kerala.
Public Works and Tourism Minister P. A. Mohamed Riyas inaugurated the event. In his inaugural address, Mr. Riyas said that tourist footfall in the northern Kerala region had been lower in the past compared to the central and southern parts of the State, but it is expected to see a significant boost with the completion of the six-lane National Highway project.
The event brought together prominent stakeholders, including tour operators, travel agents, hoteliers, and resort owners, to showcase and exchange services. Around 100 stalls were set up by established service providers representing the hotel and resort industry from the northern Kerala region. Over 250 tour operators and travel agents turned up at the venue as buyers to check the details of premium services and facilities to be highlighted among their clients.
The meeting also featured representatives from the District Tourism Promotion Councils (DTPCs) of northern Kerala, who highlighted each district’s unique tourism offerings. Dedicated stalls by the DTPCs provided updates for the stakeholders on recent developments and services in the sector. District Collector Snehil Kumar Singh presided over the meeting.
Siji Nair, the coordinator of the event, said the meeting was highly productive and it also discussed incorporating northern Kerala’s exclusive ritualistic art forms and folklore into tourism promotion. Proposals to project the region’s renowned Malabar cuisine to attract global travellers were also well-received.
The organisers said only short-listed applicants were invited to the event based on their credentials to ensure a highly professional and impactful gathering. They said all the participants were allowed to network with more influential professionals from the industry, gain valuable insights into potential investment and think about collaborative opportunities in the future.
Published – January 19, 2025 07:39 pm IST