Guest houses contribute to tourism immensely: Mohamed Riyas

Government prioritizes upkeep of guest houses in prime tourist destinations to boost tourism experience and attract more visitors.

Upkeep of State guest houses and rest houses is a top priority for the government given that it boosts tourism by ensuring a comfortable stay for tourists in prime destinations, Minister for Tourism and Public Works P.A. Mohamed Riyas has said.

The Minister on Tuesday inaugurated a new four-storey government guest house at Ponmudi hill station in Thiruvananthapuram district. “Offering world-class lodging facilities for tourists is vital for the development of tourism. This is why the government took up renovation and development of guest houses and rest houses on a priority basis with the aim of elevating the tourism experience of our State,” Mr. Riyas said.

Apart from Ponmudi, the government has been focussing on renovating guest houses and PWD rest houses in Guruvayoor, Kanyakumari, Wayanad, Aluva, Munnar and Calicut, which are some of the prime locations marked by heavy tourist footfall, he said.

This project is especially important since there has been a massive surge in tourist inflow into the State in recent years, which rose to a record level in 2024. This trend is expected to increase this year also, he added.

Ponmudi has always been an important destination that attracts both domestic and international tourists on account of its unparalleled scenic charm. A fully-equipped guest house in Ponmudi was one of the top priorities of the Tourism department. The new guest house, which has all facilities for a pleasant stay, will further enhance the scope of Ponmudi as a prime hill station, the Minister added.

The new guest house in Ponmudi is a four-story 2,590 sq m block. It has 22 air-conditioned rooms, including six suite rooms. The building also has an air-conditioned conference hall and two AC dining halls. The property has a spacious vehicle parking lot, a modern kitchen, and rooms for drivers of tourist vehicles. Presiding over the function, Vamanapuram MLA D.K. Murali said the new guest house will help increase the inflow of tourists to Ponmudi as it addresses one of the key requirements of the destination.