The second edition of the three-day Homestays and Rural Tourism Travel Meet 2017 commenced on Friday at Bolgatty Palace Convention Centre here, showcasing Kerala’s famed homestays and rural tourism initiatives.
Organised by the Kerala State Homestays and Tourism Association (Kerala HATS) with the support of Kerala Tourism, the event is organised every two years. Over 100 homestays and other accommodation units have put up stalls at the B2B meet in which delegates from other States and countries like Japan, Malaysia, etc., are participating.
In his inaugural speech, Minister for Tourism, Cooperation and Devaswom Kadakampally Surendran said that Kerala was poised to maintain its lead in the tourism sector due to its popular homestays. “Such meets will go a long way in bettering the quality of these accommodation units,” he said.
In his presidential address, K.V. Thomas, MP, said that the concept materialised in 2001 in Kerala, on the lines of ‘bed and breakfast’ lodging units of Europe.