Thiruvananathapuram: Promoting Malabar Tourism will be the focal theme of the Kerala Travel Mart (KTM), which will be inaugurated by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, at Kochi on September 27.

The four-day KTM will be a platform for extensive business-to-business meetings and chalking out measures to make the money-spinning tourism sector of the state a sustainable enterprise.

Being organised by KTM Society in partnership with Kerala Tourism, the event will conduct business-to-business meetings from September 28 to 30, a government press release said.

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It will offer a spectrum of opportunities to key players in the sector to forge business linkages and spur the growth of entire tourism industry. Experts will participate in four seminars as part of the event.

Kerala tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran said the opening of Kannur airport this year would give a boost to tourism in the Malabar region in north Kerala.

"With the inauguration of Kannur airport this year, the influx of tourists to Malabar region will increase. The implementation of the Malabar River Cruise project, covering nine rivers, has already begun. The government has sanctioned Rs 53.5 crore for this scheme in the first phase," he said.

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Delegates from 73 countries will be attending the meet, in which 350 international buyers and 890 domestic buyers have confirmed their participation.

KTM president, Baby Mathew Somatheeram, said the 10th edition of the event would have 320 sellers compared to 261 last year.

"Around 411 booths will be set up at the venue. There will be a Kerala tour for 50 foreign media persons prior to the KTM," he said.

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Tourism Department secretary, Rani George said the most striking feature of KTM is that the event is a collaboration between the state government and tourism industry.

"Tourism industry people, including hoteliers and tour operators and Kerala Tourism join hands for this big event. Kerala Tourism wants more investors to come to Malabar region," she added.

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