Kozhikode: Kozhikode became the meeting point for ideas and possibilities in Kerala’s tourism sector on August 23, as Mathrubhumi hosted the ‘Tourism Conclave 25: Gateway to Malabar Tourism’ at The Raviz Kadavu. The event brought together industry leaders, wedding planners and travel experts to discuss how the region could shine as one of India’s most promising tourism destinations.

Tourism Minister PA Mohamed Riyas inaugurated the conclave, emphasising in his keynote address that unlocking the potential of Malabar is key to the overall growth of Kerala’s tourism industry.

“The development of Malabar will not only benefit this region but the state as a whole,” he said, underlining the need for better connectivity and fresh ideas to promote the area.

Among those who shared their insights was Ruchika Arora Bansal, co-founder of Wedding Wizard and Plush Wedding, who believes Malabar could be a dream destination for couples looking for unique weddings and unforgettable holidays.

“Forums like this are great, it’s the first one and it’s in Kozhikode, the home town, but what’s even more important is to take such regional forums not in the same city as where you’re from. Malabar doesn’t need to be convinced about Malabar. The ones who need this are people in North India, who often don’t even know the basics, like the minister said, the fact that you can fly into Kannur or Kozhikode and then drive up to Wayanad. These doubts and roadblocks in people’s minds need to be cleared.”

She pointed out that many wedding planners hesitate to pitch Malabar to their clients simply because they don’t know enough about it.

“Half the people don’t even know how to sell Malabar as a product. And when you’re taking that kind of risk, you need 100 per cent knowledge to back it up. That’s why conclaves like this are important, if held in cities like Delhi or Mumbai, they’d really help us promote the region with confidence.”

“One way is to hold conclaves. Another is to invite people from the wedding and travel industries to actually experience the place. Only when those who influence clients have seen and explored Malabar will they be able to explain its charm. Otherwise, client scepticism won’t go away. With more knowledge, I can tell people why Malabar should be their next big choice.”

Of course, every destination has its challenges. For Malabar, she pointed out three: food, weather and tourist attractions.

“Food can be a hurdle, because people often want their comfort food. But if they’re ready to experiment, the cuisine here is brilliant and offers so many new flavours. As for the weather, unexpected rains can always happen, but we keep contingency plans ready and prepare backups.”

“To promote tourism, food is actually a thing to consider. People can get something that’s different from their palette. Next would be the weather, the clean air, eco-resorts, wellness retreats and spas, all these make it a perfect spot not just for weddings but for extended holidays. We design itineraries to include what guests can do before or after the wedding, so they get the full experience. Lastly it would be the tourist attractions. For that we tie up with the agencies and connect them to the clients. For these we need the help of these agencies,” she said.

Highlighting the need for collaboration, she added that travel agencies play a big role in shaping tourism experiences.

“Every city will have a lot of such agencies but it’ll be helpful if we know them beforehand to know who are the right ones to talk to. When I say such conclaves should happen in Delhi or Mumbai, these people should be also a part of it. They should share their years of experience and what they’ve done before so we can build a trust factor. Sharing their experience builds trust, and meeting them face-to-face always makes a stronger impression than just speaking over the phone. These conclaves are stepping stones,” she concluded.

Sharath Madathil, DGM marketing of Leela Raviz Hotel and Priyala Jennings, Head of Department, Watermark weddings also shared their insights on the topic.