Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
A joint venture of the non-resident Keralites living in India and abroad, the resident entrepreneurs, and the Tourism Department, has been launched by the Govt. of Kerala with a view to promote domestic tourism in the state. The project named ‘Ente Nadu’—My Land — create opportunities for the NRKs to become the brand ambassadors for the State by encouraging and motivating their friends and colleagues to visit Kerala, and to enter in partnership with private initiatives like hotels, resorts, service apartments/home stays etc. managed by resident enteprenuers. The project aims at encouraging Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model investment and development in identified locations. Viable tourism project proposals have been invited from resident entrepreneurs and property owners for the purpose. The NRKs who have land or other property in the state also can enter into a tie-up so that it could be productively used, according to the Minister for Tourism, Mr. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.
An NRK meet, as the first step towards this project, will be held in Kochi on Decenber 23 and 24. The exclusive two-day meet which is expected to bring the NRKs across the world, will also explore the areas in which they can invest in the state. The initiative aims to tap the potential of 25 lakh Malayalis working outside the state for the fast-growing tourism sector.
The project has Non-Residents Keralites’ Affairs Department (NORKA), Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC), Kerala Financial Corporation (KFC), Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC), and the Public Relations Directorate, Govt. of Kerala, as its partners.