The Kerala government has initiated a fresh round of bidding to kickstart its long-delayed heli-tourism project, aimed at improving travel connectivity between the state’s major tourist hubs.
The tourism department has invited Expressions of Interest (EoI) from certified helicopter operators and aggregators to launch scheduled aerial services linking destinations such as Kochi, Thekkady, Munnar, Kumarakom, Vagamon, and Bekal.
Officials say the service is intended to reduce road travel times that often range between 4 to 6 hours, especially in hilly regions, to under an hour by helicopter. The initiative is also being positioned as a potential aid for emergency response, medical transport, and pilgrimage tourism, particularly for Sabarimala pilgrims travelling from distant states like Andhra Pradesh.
Although the project was initially floated in December 2023, it remained grounded due to forest clearance hurdles and the absence of a clear regulatory framework. A major push came in December 2024 when the state cabinet approved a dedicated heli-tourism policy, allowing the tourism department to formally pursue operator partnerships and infrastructure planning.
The new policy outlines standards for heliports, helistations, and support services, and mandates adherence to guidelines issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. The project is being structured with both public and private participation, though officials indicate the first phase will largely depend on private operator interest.
Shortlisting of bidders is currently underway. Technical presentations from applicants are scheduled for June 23, with at least five to ten firms expected to participate. Officials believe the policy clarity could attract more certified operators than before but also admit that commercial viability will depend on pricing, route demand, and weather-related limitations.
The expected cost of a one-way trip, such as between Kochi and Munnar, is likely to be around ₹5,000 per person. Whether such pricing finds takers outside the luxury segment remains to be seen. There’s also no clarity yet on whether subsidies or incentives will be offered to operators.
While the focus remains on premium tourism, the government has indicated that the same air routes could be leveraged for non-tourism purposes, including relief operations in hard-to-reach areas during floods or landslides.
The policy framework reportedly allows for such flexibility, though no detailed plan has been released on how dual-use operations would be coordinated.
