Photo: AFPBengaluru: Tourist arrivals in Kerala grew 10.93% in 2017 from the previous year, the highest in nine years, a development officials credit to the reversal of a policy that restricted liquor sales. “The industry is upbeat after that (policy reversal),” said P. Bala Kiran, director, tourism department in Kerala, over the phone. “The reversal of the liquor policy seems to have made an impact. The negativity about Kerala tourism (in relation to the non-availability of the liquor in hotels and other places) has gone,” he said. According to his department, the liquor policy severely hit tourism, an important contributor to the state’s economy.

Source: Mint February 07, 2018 18:45 UTC