Go Caravanning
Have you ever been engrossed in travelling in a motor van that is equipped like a mini-home? Then let me tell you, it is possible in God’s own country. As the Government of Kerala is up with a comprehensive, stakeholder friendly Caravan Tourism Policy, promising the visitors a safe, customized and closest-to nature travel experience.
A caravan, also known as a travel trailer, on wheels provides a homely feel, on a journey or vacation, without relying on a motel or hotel, as the caravans are loaded with all the necessary facilities for a comfortable stay such as sofa-cum-bed, kitchenette with fridge and oven, dining table, toilet cubicle, partition behind the driver, air conditioner, internet connectivity, audio-video facilities, charging system along with GPS is the key aspect which enroots Keravan Tourism. The concept of Caravan Tourism, with its nonintrusive mode of development, will enhance the potential and attractiveness of Kerala as a tourism destination. The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) has announced the launch of Kerala’s first Caravan Tourism package, under which tourists will be able to avail all comforts while travelling on a luxury caravan by paying INR 3999 plus tax per person per night.
Tourism Minister of Kerala P.A Mohamed Riyas pointed out while unveiling the policy that Keravan offers attractive investment, like other successful tourism products of Kerala launched since the 1990s, Caravan Tourism is also to be developed on PPP mode with private investors, tour operators and local communities being key stakeholders. Minister also added that the policy envisages laying down the broad framework for the development and encouragement of Caravan Tourism in Kerala, predominantly in the private sector through incentivizing the purchase of caravans and establishing caravan parks, chalking out the process along with procedures for its operations and approvals.
Keravan Kerala offers big opportunities for investors to operate specially built caravans for travel, and leisure stay. Eco-friendly caravans parks across the state enable the visitor to spend their valuable time and explore the destination of their choice.
According to V R Krishna Teja, Director, of Kerala tourism, going by Kerala’s inherent strengths of natural beauty and tourism-friendly -culture, Caravan Tourism has immense scope for the state. Besides offering fresh experiences for the tourists, local communities stand to gain substantially by enabling them to showcase their culture and products before the visitors.
Setting up of Caravan Parks and Village life experience powered by the Government of Kerala would aim at exploring the possibility of turning accessible but unexplored places in the state into alluring destinations for the travellers to park and stay. The main motive behind the initiative is designed to make tourism act as a sustainable activity that would bring benefits to local communities along with boosting the scale of opportunities for the industry.
A caravan park will be a completely safe and secure zone offering a hassle-free and stress-free environment to tourists, protected with necessary features like a compound wall, adequate security and safety arrangements, patrolling and surveillance cameras. The park authorities will maintain effective coordination with local authorities and medical establishments to attend to medical emergencies. The minimum land required for a park will be 50 cents, with at least 5 parking bays. The park design should be compatible with its surroundings, causing the least possible disturbance to the site. Landscaping and plantation have to be planned to ensure privacy, and green cover and take into account such factors as wind, dust and noise. The parks in hilly and ecologically fragile areas will have to incorporate creative architecture in conformity with local heritage. The parks should have proper water harvesting structures. There should be strategically located open space for recreation, a forecourt, a drive-in area and turning circles. The parks will have Tourist Facilitation Centres to inform the visitors of amenities and services available.
Eco-friendliness being a major feature of Caravan Tourism, preferably Bharat Stage VI Compliant vehicles will be pressed into service. Assuring complete security of the guests, there will be IT-enabled real-time monitoring of caravans. The State Motor Vehicles Department in accordance with the Central Motor Vehicles Rules would fuel up the Keravan Project.
The caravan tourism policy announced by the state received a good response within weeks, auto major Bharat Benz announced it would roll out a world-class, ready for road tourist caravan in the state for the tourism industry, seizing on the huge opportunities awaiting the tourism sector in the post-pandemic scenario.