Kerala Tourism has developed a QR code-based virtual guide to provide information about tourist spots in the state. Launching the digital tool in Fort Kochi on Monday, PA Tourism Minister Mohamed Riyas said he would provide information on the distance to the nearest bus stop, train station and airport, opening hours of tourist spots and their contact numbers. Currently, detailed information about Fort Kochi is available in the guide.
Visitors who scan the QR code displayed at tourist spots and important airports will receive an e-brochure about state tourist centers. It will provide information about popular and lesser known tourist spots. Mr. Riyas added that more such high-tech services will be promoted in the tourism sector to ensure a hassle-free travel experience.
About tour packages
The virtual guide will also provide information on tour packages and how to book them. The e-brochure also works automatically and provides information on travel destinations, as well as short videos and high-resolution photos. Pages can be downloaded to recall the sights.
Mr Riyas said Fort Kochi, which is Kerala’s top tourist destination, will have world-class toilets by the end of the year. In addition, £2.5 crore has been allocated to refurbish a disabled holiday home by the sea, where guests can stay at economical rates.
Homestay Directive
Instructions were given to improve the quality of food in the hospitality sector. Homestay in Kerala will no longer require a certificate of no objection from local governments in order to obtain a license as they play a vital role in the tourism sector which, despite the pandemic, recorded 75,000 visitors in the last fiscal year.
Most people are desperate to travel, which is seen as “revenge tourism”. Even though Ernakulam recorded the highest number of tourists, Wayanad and Idukki have seen a marked increase in visits, mostly from neighboring states, he said. The minister added that youth and students will be organized into tourist clubs to help maintain and market tourist destinations. “The government will soon issue a notice on this matter,” he said.
₹42 crore for Fort Kochi
Mayor M. Anilkumar hoped that Fort Kochi’s £42 crore beach restoration plan would bring more visitors to the site, which has a unique topography and is a melting pot of cultures. The director of Kerala Tourism, V. R. Krishna Teja, was present. KJ Maxi, MLA, said the virtual guide will help tourists familiarize themselves with the area without relying on primary information from others.
