MAJOR FUNCTIONS

The Department of Tourism has three major function such as (i) Hospitality wing of the State Government (ii) Estate Office duty and (iii) Tourism Development.

i.Hospitality Wing : The Department provides accommodation and transport to the State Guests including VVIPs and VIPs. Maintains 24 Guest Houses at Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram, Ponmudi, Attingal, Varkala, Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Aluva, Devikulam, Munnar, Peermade, Cheruthuruthy, Idukki, Thrissur, Guruvayoor, Malampuzha, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Sulthan Battery, Kannoor, Kasargod,Yathri Nivas at Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam and Kerala House at Kanyakumari and New Delhi. All reservations to these establishments except Yatri Nivas, Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi are made through GAD (Political) Govt. Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram.
The Department of Tourism has a fleet of cars of various models and brands to provide transport to the guests as well as the Ministers, Speaker, Leader of Opposition, etc.

ii. Estate Office Duty :
It is the responsibility of the Department of Tourism to provide furnished Residential Bunglows to the Ministers, Leader of Opposition, Chief Whip, Speaker etc. The transport facility is also provided to the above by the Department of Tourism.

iii. Tourism Development : A shift in the emphasis from Hospitality Management to Tourism Planning, Development & Marketing was the major change the Department witnessed in the 1980s.
The Budget pattern underwent a sea change by the 1990s to provide more for Tourism Development. The activities under this head can be broadly classified into:
(a). Marketing & Promotion, (b).Planning & Development. and (c). Support to other agencies.
Effective marketing and promotional measures are essential to attract tourists and to highlight Kerala as a distinct destination. For this, various measures such as media advertisement, printing and distribution of multi-colour brochures, hospitality to travel writers, conducting festivals, participating in National and International fairs & festivals etc are being adopted.
As part of Tourism Development, new destinations are being identified and various schemes are being implemented to develop them as important tourist spots in the State. Department is providing assistance to District Tourism Promotion Councils (DTPCs) in all the districts. Private sector investment needs encouragement from the Government. Accordingly Tourism was declared as an industry way back in 1986 and certain concession/incentives were offered for investment this sector.