KOZHIKODE: The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC), in a first, has cashed in on a private tour expedition to propagate Kerala tourism. The journey by 10 professionals who set off from Malappuram on Sunday in two cars will cover 10,000 kilometres through 15 states in a month.

“It’s not a mere pleasure trip. We want to showcase the tourism potential of Kerala to rural folk. Besides it is a journey to know the exquisite cuisines and varied customs and traditions of the country,” said Dr Ameer Khusru, member of the team.

The daily updates of the trip in the form of pictures and texts would be uploaded on the Facebook page, ‘The great Indian drive.’ The team consists of seven physicians, two engineers and a photographer, all from Kozhikode, Malappuram districts, except for one, who hails from Thiruvananthapuram.

Their cars had been decked up with the pictures and catchwords of Kerala tourism. The trip will pass through 30 major centres including Bangalore, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Nainital, Manali, Kashmir, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa etc. “In each of the centres, we will distribute the pamphlets and brochures of Kerala tourism. A small interaction with the native population is also on the itinerary,” added Dr Khusru.

State Tourism minister, A.P Anilkumar said the government was trying to woo domestic tourists by sponsoring such trips. “We cannot let off any chance in the tourism sector where stiff competition is taking place,” he said. He added that the government could not provide sponsorship to all private tours but with certain conditions. The team will return on March 24.