Kochi: Transport Secretary in charge of Aviation, Biju Prabhakar, here on Sunday sought to know how Kerala could attract high-value tourists if bars remain closed on the first of every month. Prabhakar also maintained that the absence of the facility is a reason for foreign cruise tourists not visiting Kochi.

"I don’t understand the purpose of a 'dry day’. While the government is trying to counter this, there is considerable opposition,” he said. 

He added, "Bringing in high-value tourists will not happen overnight. It requires a campaign. While many people travel to destinations like Jaipur and Jodhpur for destination weddings, we should also consider introducing similar schemes here."

The main issue here is that bars close on the first of every month, and that has to change. If someone wants to host a wedding or other event on the first of a month, it becomes difficult, creating significant inconvenience for hotel operators. The Tourism Department has been consistently requesting a change in this rule, he added.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the test flight of Kerala's seaplane project in Kochi.