Tourism activities across Kerala are moving ahead safely and normally with all events including the Champions Boat League (CBL) taking place as per schedule, marking the commencement of the high inbound season, State Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas has said.

The situation is well under control in a few pockets of Kozhikode district from where some cases of Nipah virus infection were reported, thanks to co-ordinated and foolproof containment measures taken on a war footing, the Minister said.

Riyas, who is camping in Kozhikode, to closely monitor the situation along with Health Minister Veena George, said there is no room for worry on this count.

Tourism Department officials are in close touch with the travel and hospitality industry and service providers and the feedback is that all tourism activities are on track as planned, the Minister said.

In the affected area the Government has mobilised the medical community and the health infrastructure in full strength. Localised quarantine zones have been demarcated and all precautions are in place. The strong and timely interventions have started yielding results.

Given the state’s strong health sector infrastructure and history of effective interventions during the past medical emergencies, Kerala has always remained a safe destination for tourists, and the situation is no different now, Riyas said.

Kerala Tourism has come out unscathed from serious crises in the past, like natural disasters and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kerala Tourism is poised to scale new heights by the year-end, having clinched an all-time high record of 20.1 per cent increase in domestic arrivals in the first half of 2023.

Meanwhile, the Health Minister Veena George said that there are no fresh cases of Nipah virus and the 42 samples -- collected from people including those in the high-risk category-- have tested negative. The reduced rate of infection indicated that the Nipah virus outbreak is under control, she said adding that the conditions of patients undergoing treatment are stable now. Kerala reported six positive cases.

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