Kerala need revenue from Gujarathi Tourists but not Gujarat’s Ambassodar Big B

Kerala kitchens go green to tickle Gujarati palate

Rathin Das | Ahmedabad

In a State known for its marine food, kitchens are turning pure vegetarian. Many kitchens in Kerala have turned fully vegetarian in order to woo high-spending tourists from Gujarat, most of whom like vegetarian food.

Tourism Director M Sivasankar told the media during a promotional trip here that vegetarian kitchens were being segregated, with utensils, chopping boards and cooks quarantined from the rest. He added that visiting Gujaratis could expect wholesome vegetarian food on a trip to Kerala.

Gujaratis, who are known for traveling, often face culinary problems in many exotic destinations for lack of vegetarian food. Most of them often have their own cook in tow.

With many hotels starting exclusive vegetarian kitchens, tourists from Gujarat would no longer have to take their cooks along with them, the Tourism Director said.

He disclosed that tourists from Gujarat comprise a sizeable section of the roughly 68 lakh domestic travellers to Kerala. The number of tourists to Kerala from Gujarat has substantially gone up in the last three to four years.

Apart from the usual attractions like natural beauty, backwaters, hill stations and beaches, Kerala tourism department is now promoting a new concept of ‘home stay’. In addition to the ‘bed & breakfast’ offered by hotels, the new theme would involve visitors having meals together with a host family that would also act as their guide.

There are more than 200 packages in the ‘home stay’ category, Sivasankar added. Annual revenues from Kerala’s tourism are estimated to be around Rs 13,000 crore with the industry contributing as much as nine per cent to the total employment in the State.

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