Kerala Government is
planning to conduct a Mega Shopping Festival from
1st December 2007 till 15th January 2008 across 14
districts of Kerala State. The Grand Kerala Shopping
Festival (GKSF) is the latest attraction that will
touch the lives of every Keralite and also tourists
and they can explore a delightful shopping experience
that promises amazing price-offs and exclusive privileges
from commercial retail outlets. The festival, which
will coincide with the peak tourism season, will also
include cultural events. The State Government plans
to make it an annual event in the coming years also.
The State Tourism minister, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan
told that the 45-day long event is intended to help
the growth of Kerala’s tourism sector and also
its traditional products such as coir, handloom fabric
and handicrafts. GKSF would also promote local traditional
products, such as marine products, decorative items,
handicrafts, consumer durables, jewellery, textiles,
resorts and the ayurveda centre,' he added.
The State Finance Minister, Dr T.M. Thomas Issac,
also said that the idea behind the Grand Kerala Shopping
Festival is to transform the State into a major international
shopping destination in about five years.
The main focus of the festival will be on the local
residents and the thousands of NRI’s who travel
to Kerala during this period to their home town from
various countries. The festival is open for participation
to all kinds of merchant establishments - ranging
from consumer durables outlets, lifestyle stores,
jewellery retail shops, hotels, restaurants, resorts
& spas, ayurvedic healing centers and other forms
of retail outlets.
