About Kerala: Information on Tourism Industry, Agriculture, Economy & Geography

At current prices, Kerala's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) was about US$ 89.44 billion in 2015-16. The state's GSDP recorded at a CAGR of 11.18 per cent between 2004-05 and 2015-16. The state's per capita GSDP was US$ 2,677 during 2015-16 compared with US$ 810 during 2004-05. As of February 2018, Kerala had a total installed power generation capacity of 5,019.23 megawatt (MW).

Kerala is one of the few states to have marketed its natural beauty successfully to the leisure tourism sector. The state's unique heritage and cultural diversity have helped attract tourists from the world over. BBC Travel survey has rated Kerala as the top favourite tourist destination among foreign travellers. Foreign tourist arrivals increased by 6.23 per cent during 2016 over 2015.

It is a leading agricultural state in the country and the largest producer of rubber, pepper, coconut and coir. As per budget 2018-19, Government of Kerala proposed an outlay of US$ 1,131.75 million for the Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Co-operation sector.

Kerala has a wide range of fiscal and policy incentives for businesses under the Industrial and Commercial Policy and has well-drafted sector-specific policies. Kerala stands 18th among Indian states in rankings based on ease of doing business and reforms implementation, according to a study by the World Bank and KPMG.

According to DIPP, during April 2000 to December 2017, FDI inflows into Kerala, including Lakshadweep, totalled to US$ 1.93 billion.

Key Sectors:

• The Government of Kerala proposed an outlay of US$ 32.59 million for coir sector under the Annual Budget for 2018-19.
• As of September 2017, Kerala had 12 operational IT/ITeS SEZs which are located in Kakkanad, Thiruvanthapuram, Pallipuram Village, etc.
• The electronic hub proposed at Kochi is a prestigious project of the Government of Kerala to promote electronic hardware manufacturing and assembling units and R&D centres, and to support infrastructure for the same.
• Under the state budget 2018-19, US$ 12.67 million is allocated for tourism marketing.
• During 2016-17, overall production of spices in Kerala stood at 140.7 thousand tonnes. As per the Budget 2018-19, government has allocated funds worth US$ 1.70 million for cultivation of pepper in the state.
• As per budget 2018-19, the Government of Kerala proposed an outlay of US$ 92.68 million for fisheries sector.
• Among maritime states in India, Kerala ranks second in marine fish production. In 2015-16, total fish production in the state stood at 0.73 million tonnes.