Tourism Minister A P Anilkumar released the logo of the 6th edition of Grand Kerala Shopping Festival (GKSF) scheduled to be held from December 15, 2012, to January 31, 2013.
The minister told mediapersons here that this year GKSF is targeting 10,000 registrations. There will be marketing and promotion, IT solution, logistics and trade shows and exhibitions.
GKSF will focus on thematic exhibitions like Handicrafts and Handloom fest, Coir and Coconut fest, Tribal fest and Craft fest in association with the respective state and central public sector undertakings. Six such exhibitions will be conducted and the locations will be decided in such a way that it closely relates to the theme.
There will be weekly draws in connection with the exhibitions. A mega exhibition will be held at Kochi in association with partner states and other countries for 15 days during the Christmas and New Year period. This year there will be a facelift to the festival by giving it a wider perspective. Through various promotional activities, maximum number of national and international tourists will be attracted to the festival and efforts will be made to promote the state as a commercial hub.
Tourists will have the facility to purchase local products like coir, cashew, marine products, spice, handloom and handicrafts from the production centres. This will have multiple effects to the State economy, the minister said. As part of the festival, prizes of 101 kg gold, sponsored gifts and GKSF merchandise instead of discount coupons will be given to the customers. There will also be scratch and win prizes, sponsored gifts on a daily basis, weekly draws and a mega draw of one kilogram gold for one person and 500 gram gold for two persons.
Automobiles, banks, electronics, FMCG, hotels, jewellers, spas, supermarkets and textiles are the major segments which will participate in the festival. The inaugural ceremony will be held at Kozhikode and closing function will be at Kollam.