Kerala for All conclave: Accessible tourism no longer a niche segment but mainstream imperative, says Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan

With over 1.3 billion persons with disabilities and 1.1 billion senior citizens worldwide, accessible tourism is no longer a niche segment but a mainstream imperative, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said.

Speaking after inaugurating the two-day Kerala for All conclave on inclusive and accessible tourism organised by Kerala Tourism in association with The Hindu Group in Kochi on Sunday, Mr. Vijayan said Kerala is committed to setting a model for the country by learning from the global best practices while adapting them to the local realities of the State.

With modern technology, Kerala’s goal is to provide equal benefits to all segments of society, and the State is committed to achieving this goal. The conclave serves as a policy-oriented platform to assess Kerala’s current position, setting a new benchmark, along with identifying actionable pathways for the future, he said.

The aim of the State is to translate insights into a robust framework that firmly places accessibility across the entire tourism value chain, from infrastructure to digital enablement, said the Chief Minister. While embarking on a journey toward a more equitable and dignified tourism landscape, the event is very relevant as tourism globally undergoes a transformation with inclusivity and accessibility emerging as central pillars of sustainable growth, he added.

The State has also registered a robust growth in the tourist movement, with over 2.25 domestic tourists visiting various tourist destinations across the State in 2024, netting a total revenue of over ₹49,000 crore.

“We have also been able to achieve much more than what we had before the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the result of the tourism model we have been pursuing,” said Mr. Vijayan, adding that the State is also on the cusp of providing new experiences to the visitors by introducing seaplane, caravan, and heli-tourism initiatives.

“We have also been able to create job opportunities for the local people through responsible tourism initiatives apart from experimenting with a new model of women’s empowerment. This is the result of the development model pursued by the State government,” he added.

K.N. Unnikrishnan MLA presided over the function, while N. Ram, Director, The Hindu Group, delivered the keynote address. K. Biju, secretary of Kerala Tourism, welcomed the gathering.