Over 10 lakh FB Fans for Kerala Tourism

With over 10 lakh likes on its Facebook page, Kerala Tourism Department has become the first tourism body in the country to have more than one million fans on the social networking site.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With over 10 lakh likes on its Facebook page, Kerala Tourism Department has become the first tourism body in the country to have more than one million fans on the social networking site.

Kerala Tourism is well ahead of major global tourism destination boards such as Singapore Tourism (8 lakh fans), Thailand Tourism (6 lakh fans), Paris Tourism (3.2 lakh fans) and Sri Lanka Tourism (66,000 fans).

Launched in 2010, the Kerala Tourism Facebook page (www.facebook.com/keralatourismofficial) serves as a gateway for its fans across the world to catch glimpses of the state through social media. With the help of the Facebook page, fans are also given information on the latest events and news in the state in areas ranging from art to culture.

“We are deeply heartened by this landmark achievement,”  Tourism Minister A P Anilkumar said. “Kerala Tourism has always been in the forefront when it comes to embracing the power of the social media to reach out to the people,” he added.

Kerala Tourism also has dedicated Facebook pages in French and German languages, which specifically cater to the needs of the French and German-speaking audiences across the world. Over the past few years, French and German-speaking audiences have proven to be key groups as far as Kerala Tourism is concerned.

For the purpose of promoting knowledge and awareness about ayurveda, Kerala Tourism launched two Facebook pages - Kerala: Home of Ayurveda and Kerala: Heimat des Ayurveda - in English and German respectively.

With 1.2 lakh active fans, the department’s Facebook page on ayurveda in English is the most comprehensive Facebook page in the country on our ancient medicinal system.

“In a world where technology has transformed the way we communicate and interact, it was a visionary step for Kerala Tourism to take the help of the social media to promote tourism much before others did,” Kerala Tourism Director P I Sheik Pareeth said.

According to the agency that handles social media for Kerala Tourism, the Facebook page and the Twitter handle (@KeralaTourism), which has 26,000 followers, are the most engaging platforms in Kerala Tourism’s social media deck.

Meanwhile, the followers of Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn accounts are also increasing at a steady pace, with a large number of travellers and Kerala lovers outside the state much active in these platforms.