Kerala budget grants tourism industry status, eases plantation land use
Big news for Kerala's travel scene: the state's latest budget just gave tourism official industry status, meaning hotels, homestays, and tour operators will now get the same perks as other businesses.
The government is also making it easier to use plantation land for tourism projects, a long-awaited move for everyone in the sector.
Kerala budget funds pilgrimage circuits, homestays
The budget promises major upgrades across tourist hotspots: think better facilities in Alappuzha (plus a dedicated plant to handle houseboat waste), a new pilgrimage tourism circuit project linking pilgrimage centers, and an expanded Muziris Tourism Project with more museums and boat rides.
There's also a big push for women-led projects like Green Marshals to keep destinations clean, statewide support for homestays, AI-powered digital tourism platforms, and fresh branding campaigns for places like Wayanad.
In short: Kerala wants your next trip to be smarter, cleaner, and way more fun.