Craft Village | Representational Image
Payyoli: Minister for tourism PA Mohamed Riyas said that Kerala witnessed a high inflow of tourists in 2022. He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Kerala International Arts and Crafts Exhibition in the Sargaalaya Craft Village at Iringal.
The foresighted interventions of the government contributed to the success of the tourism sector in the post-Covid period. The tourism sector secured a growth of 120 per cent in 2022, said the minister.
Kerala’s tourist endeavours are gaining international attention. E-Visas have been made available for foreign nationals in order to rejuvenate the tourism sector.
The event was presided over by MLA Kanathil Jameela. Collector Tej Lohit Reddy inaugurated the Craft Bazar Pavilion, while municipality chairman Vadakkayil Shafeeq and NABARD general manager G Gopakumaran Nair inaugurated the International Craft Pavilion and NABARD Pavilion, respectively.
In the 10th edition of the crafts exhibition and sales, Uzbekistan is the partner country with 572 artisans from 11 nations, including Lebanon, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, Jordan, Nepal, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, and Mauritius, participating. Crafters from 26 states in India are also taking part.
Schoolchildren who won the first and second prize in 19 on-the-spot craft competitions at the state science fair will display their products at the festival.
The festival is organised with the support of the union ministries of tourism and textile, the state tourism department, and NABARD.