THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Communist love for ayurveda and the beaches in Kerala is reaching a new horizon. There is a significant rise in the number of tourists arriving in Kerala from China and Russia.The Kerala Tourism Department is now exploring new avenues in these countries to lure more people to Kerala. However, the language barrier of those from these countries is of great concern. The Tourism Department is planning road shows in the targeted countries in the light of the increase in the flow of tourists from these countries.Tourism Director Rani George said that Russia, China and Malaysia are the new markets where the department plans road shows. The problem of communicating with those in the tourism trade will be sorted out soon. ‘’There are plans to explore new markets in the Middle East. Marketing has been started in Australia and Middle East,’’ she said. Ratheesh C Nair, Russia’s honorary consul in Thiruvananthapuram, said that 12,000 Russian tourists visited Kerala in 2011 and between 10,000 and 11,000 during 2010. The majority of Russian tourists came from Moscow and St Petersburg and around 90 per cent were attracted by ayurveda. Tourists from Russia and China have shown great interest to have an experience of the greenery, beaches and ayurveda in Kerala. Statistics show that there was a 24 per cent increase in issuance of visas through the Indian Embassy in Russia during 2011. Yuri Kiryanov, general manager, India-Tour, Moscow, told Express that there was good response from Russian tourists to visit Kerala. Though the hospitality was excellent, the bad shape of roads, traffic problems and waste accumulation on the roads in the state are matters of great concern. ‘’The tourists who visited Kerala had given a feedback that the service in resorts was very good. The infrastructure is yet to be improved”, he said.
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