TIME magazine has listed Kerala among the world’s 50 extraordinary destinations to explore in 2022.
Praising Kerala as one of India’s most beautiful states which has spectacular beaches, temples, lush backwaters and palaces, the magazine noted, “This year, Kerala is boosting motor-home tourism in India to inspire a new pas de deux of exploration and accommodation. The state’s first caravan park, Karavan Meadows, opened in Vagamon, a scenic hill station.”
Being featured in this list is just the boost Kerala was looking for in its efforts to put its pandemic-hit tourism industry back on track.
While noting Kerala’s success in houseboat cruising, TIME said caravans are expected to follow suit with a similar promise of sustainable tourism as a large number of campers are expected to traverse the land, giving a fresh and unique way to experience Kerala’s beaches and verdant plantations, a release said.
Expressing happiness at the development, Kerala Tourism Minister PA Mohamed Riyas said, “This is an emphatic recognition of our new initiatives to promote tourism in tune with ecological imperatives and sustainability. We are also making earnest efforts to facilitate tourists to visit unexplored places that dot our scenic state.”
He added “Featuring in TIME magazine’s world’s greatest places to explore in the ongoing year will give a big push to the state’s continued initiatives to regain its buoyancy in international tourism circuits and promote tourism in a safe and hospitable manner.”
Tourism Director PB Nooh said “Kerala figuring in TIME’s list is an endorsement of the state’s conscious and sustained endeavours to bring into focus the unexplored places that would kindle interest among the tourists. The results have already started showing; footfalls have increased substantially in the post-pandemic phase.”
In order to compile this year’s list of the World’s Greatest Places, TIME solicited nominations of places from its international network of correspondents and contributors, with an eye towards those offering new and exciting experiences.
Another Indian destination that has found entry in the list is Ahmedabad, which also was India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City.
The list also includes Ras Al Khaimah, the UAE; Park City, Utah; Seoul; Great Barrier Reef, Australia; the Grand Canyon of the Arctic Circle,Valencia, Spain; Trans Bhutan Trail, Bhutan; International Space Station; Bogota; Lower Zambezi National Park, Zambia; Istanbul; the historic Silk Roads of Uzbekistan; Jamaica; Bali, Indonesia; and Kigali, Rwanda.
