KOCHI: Facilities owned by Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) and Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC) in the state are likely to play hosts once caravans and campervans start plying across the various green destinations in the state.
Officials of the Kerala Tourism Infrastructure Limited (KTIL), which is giving an ambitious push to caravan tourism in the state, said some private players have come forward to market the unique product in locations where KTDC and KFDC have facilities suitable for camping. “Caravan tourism has great potential in Kerala. We have given all permissions needed to start the project,” said Anil Kumar, Managing Director, KTIL.
The KTIL had been showcasing niche tourism products like caravan tourism, which helps promote travel to destinations where adequate hotel facilities are not available, before the entrepreneurs.
Murali Krishnan, CEO, Green Transit Bangalore Pvt Ltd, said that the company is ready to introduce the concept in Kerala if sufficient infrastructure is provided.
“Our company is planning to introduce a caravan in Kerala which will be imported from the US. If the venture is feasible, four more caravans, which cost `2 crore each, will be brought to the state,” Murali Krishnan said.
But investors still have apprehensions and they need to be cleared by the government, he said.
“When the Union Ministry introduced the policy they had set aside money which can be utilised by the state governments to improve facilities in caravan tourism spots,” he said.
As far as caravan tourism is concerned, the investor only needs the infrastructure and support from the government. Caravan parks, which hosts the vehicles, should have facilities to help them move from once place to another including rest rooms and potable water. The Union Ministry of Tourism had come out with a caravan tourism policy in 2009. Caravan tourism has already been introduced in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.