BENGALURU: If you thought bad roads are a deterrent for tourists only in Karnataka, look at neighbouring Kerala. God's Own Country was faced with a similar problem some time ago. That is when Kerala Tourism came up with a novel concept: airlift backwater-bound tourists and drop them off at their destinations, so that they don't have to use roads at all.

In the initial phase, tourists landing in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode will be airlifted to Ashtamudi, Punnamada, Kumarakom, Bolgatty and Bekal - all picturesque backwater destinations.

Kerala will soon make its Seaplane Project operational. "It is aimed at improving last-mile connectivity by air," said Muraleedharan P, Kerala's tourist information officer, in Bengaluru on January 13.

A Kerala Tourism department team, visiting Bengaluru to promote their state, said Karnataka has greater potential than Kerala; but the latter scores because of aggressive marketing.

On Sri Lanka surpassing Kerala in tourist numbers, they said: It is a country, and it is unfair to compare it with our state's numbers. They are perhaps promoting their beach-holiday packages aggressively, said Muraleedharan. He, however, maintained Kerala has seen year-on-year growth in the domestic and international circuits.

Kerala has set up a tourism office at Mangalore airport to assist people travelling to Bekal.

In numbers

In 2013, foreign tourists arrival rose 8.12% in Kerala

Domestic tourists' arrival went up by 7.75%

Foreign exchange increased by 21.63%

Karnataka tourists to Kerala in 2012: 6,06,135

Karnataka tourists to Kerala in 2013: 6,31,676

