FEBRUARY 20248TOP STORIESKERALA GOVERNMENT LOOKING TO BOOST TOURISM BY ENHANCING HOSPITALITYMERCEDES LOOKING AT UNCONVENTIONAL AREAS FOR EXPANSION IN INDIAThe Kerala government has expressed its commitment to align beach tourism projects with the current demand by leveraging the significant potential of this specialized sector while enhancing hospitality standards. Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas said that it is essential to adopt innovative ideas in the tourism sector, speaking after opening the renovated Samudra Kovalam, the beachside resort of the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) that now boasts a whole range of world-class features on Jan 30."The refurbished sea-front resort will boost Kerala's standing as a fast-emerging hub of destination weddings and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) tourism," said the Minister in a release.He further stated that the state has picturesque locations for promoting the niche area of destination weddings, which is becoming a global trend. The government is making all efforts to create the best facilities for this segment.KTDC Chairman P K Sasi said in his presidential address that in the third phase of renovation, 40 rooms had been refurbished in tune with modern aesthetic concepts. Sasi also added that 24 more rooms of Samudra Kovalam, which is the best model for beach tourism, will be renovated in the next phase.KTDC Managing Director Sikha Surendran welcomed the gathering. Nestled on a sprawling coconut tree-lined site overlooking the Arabian Sea, Samudra Kovalam has long been the hallmark of Kerala's highly successful beach tourism. Mercedes-Benz, the German carmaker, is aiming to increase its market share in smaller cities in India, where the demand for luxury cars is expected to grow in the upcoming years. Recently, the company launched new GLA and AMG GLE 53 models and now plans to improve its sales and service infrastructure in non-metro areas to cater to the needs of its customers.According to Santosh Iyer, the Managing Director & CEO of Mercedes-Benz India, there is significant growth happening in mini-metros in India, and the company wants to increase its customer base in these cities. To achieve this objective, the firm will be opening up 20 new workshops in 10 new cities, including Jammu, Kanpur, and Patna.The company aims to ensure that customers in these mini-metros don't have to drive more than two hours to get their cars serviced. Therefore, Mercedes-Benz wants to move closer to customer pockets. The penetration of luxury cars in such cities remains low as compared to metros, which presents more opportunities for growth. Currently, top metros account for around 70 percent of the sales annually, with the remaining 30 percent coming from mini-metros and other smaller markets.The luxury car market in India accounts for just over 1 percent of the total passenger vehicle sales of around 40 lakh units annually.
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