Pubs will enliven tourism: Industry

Thiruvananthapuram: Welcoming the chief minister’s announcement that the government is considering a proposal to open pubs , the tourism industry said that such a facility would be a boon to the industry much more than the IT sector, for which the concept is being promoted.

Opening pubs, which could provide a nightlife for visitors, had been a long-pending demand of the industry, and tourism organizations had already given several representations in this regard to the tourism department and the government.

LDF government’s liquor policy, unlike that of the previous UDF government, is tourism-friendly and it ‘has already helped MICE tourism to catch up after the slump it suffered due to restrictions on liquor imposed by the previous government’, said several tour operators and property owners in the industry.

“Opening pubs will definitely give tourists an opportunity to unwind or have some relaxation in the evening and into the night after sightseeing and other activities during the day,” said Abraham George, a member of National Tourism Advisory Council who also runs a tours and travel company. He was also one among the panelists in the TV programme, during which the chief minister revealed the government plan.

As of now, tourists visiting various destinations in state do not have opportunities to enjoy nightlife, giving competitors like Bengaluru, Goa and Sri Lanka an edge in tourism. “Opening pubs in various destinations, especially Kovalam, Varkala and Kochi where the tourists do stay back for days or even weeks, can make a big difference,” George pointed out.