What is GKSF

What is GKSF

The 'Grand Kerala Shopping Festival' is envisaged as an annual event that will become full fledged with in a period of five years. It is a prestigious and unique initiative by the state government to leverage state tourism to promote Kerala as an international shopping haven.

Tourists from all around the world are lured to GKSF not only for the wide variety of quality consumer goods available, but also for all of the events that take place during the festival.

Kerala is known around the world as God’s Own Country but they really lay out the red carpet during December 1st to January 15th, with thousands of retail outlets participating, that offer everything imaginable from gold, haute couture, cars, electronics to handicrafts and textiles. Most hotels and apartments also get involved offering special offers during the period. An initiative of Kerala Tourism, the festival is aimed at attracting consumers by creating a festive mood and offering discounts and mega prizes for the shoppers.

Why Kerala

Kerala offers a unique experience to shoppers that can not be experienced anywhere else in the world with its serene backwaters, abundant green hills, exotic wildlife, waterfalls, extensive plantations, Ayurveda, enchanting art forms and the magical festivals of Kerala weave their magic around your stressed out and tired body and rejuvenate your soul.

Many people are depending on other countries for specialised medical care. Kerala can offer world class medical facilities at affordable rates to those from any country.

Tourism has developed and has in recent years witnessed rapid growth, providing the world with a fantastic opportunity to experience Kerala as it is today… a beautiful, exciting, vibrant, and deeply cultural land.

Kerala has the potential to emerge as the most affordable shopping destination in the Asia Pacific region.

According to National Sample Survey Organisation's per capita household expenditure data, the Keralite is India's most spending consumer.

The first ever Grand Kerala Shopping Festival held in 2007 -08 proved to be a roaring success with both retail sales and visitor arrivals hitting record highs

Benefits

During the Festival, the retail shops, trade centers, shopping malls etc will be offering attractive packages to encourage the customers and attract more tourists to visit Kerala. The Festival will also interlink with the State's high quality mercantile, Tourism brand value & human resources strengths, which is inherent to Kerala.

Every time a customer makes a purchase worth Rs. 1,000/- from any of the participating outlets in Grand Kerala Shopping Festival (GKSF) he/she will be entitled get a lucky coupon.

These coupons can be used for three kind of lucky draws –

a. Scratch & Win

b. Weekly Bumper Draw

c. Mega Bumper Draw

The coupons can be used as entry passes to the cultural events organised as part of the festival which will conclude on January 15.

During the Shopping Festival, shops offer irresistible discounts on their merchandise to offer you a grand bargain

Plans

The Festival will give due consideration to market centres, traditional industrial centres, and tourism centres, who will accept the standards of sanitation, hospitality, amenities and other business standards.

This joint initiative will extend across all retail, entertainment and tourism related destinations across the state which would include establishments which focus on handicrafts & handlooms, hotels & restaurants, jewellery & lifestyle, electronics & home products, spices & coir products.

Vision

Now the stage is set to convert Kerala into an international shopping festival build on the reputation of unique culture and hospitality. The state government strongly believes that culture, arts and heritage is not something to be hidden away in museums or galleries, but should take its rightful place as an integral part of economic activity.

GKSF offers a chance to light up your holiday season with the most amazing shopping experience. An entirely new concept, it succeeded brilliantly in showcasing what co-operation between private sector and public sector could do to create a mind-boggling achievement.

With phenomenal support and a host of special offers and privileges from different sectors, the Festival is set to offer visitors an unforgettable shopping experience.