Kerala Tourism ad on a London bus goes viral
The video was shared on Instagram by a user named Ryan Shiju and was subsequently also promoted by Kerala Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas
One of the most iconic things about London is the red buses, which are synonymous with the city's timeless charm. So when a Keralite abroad saw an ad for Kerala Tourism ad on London's most celebrated symbols, it understandably went viral.
Netizens were delighted by the ad and expressed pride in spotting an ad for their native land in a foreign country.
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The video was shared on Instagram by a user named Ryan Shiju and was subsequently also promoted by Kerala Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas.
While this may come as a surprise to many, the ad is a part of the Kerala government's ongoing tourism endeavour since 2018. The red buses in London are a part of Kerala Tourism's marketing strategies on an experimental basis.
The double-deckers operated from five depots in central London with displays of Kerala's backwaters and houseboats. The wrap on these buses presented scenic pictures along with the Kerala Tourism branding.
Prior to that, the department had Kerala branding on taxis in the United Kingdom, covering London, Birmingham and Glasgow. For Kerala, the UK is among the top countries that reportedly send over 1.5 lakh visitors in a year.
Kerala is one of the most picturesque places in India and a hot favourite among tourists. Given its popularity, the Kerala government has been actively promoting tourism in the green state for decades. Since the mid-80s, Kerala Tourism has launched several ad campaigns, some of which have won awards for their creativity.
The ad is part of the Kerala government's global outreach programme to push the state's prospects as a scenic tourist destination, specialising in a variety of cultural offerings such as snake boat race, vegetarian cuisine and Ayurvedic retreats.
Recently, Kerala Tourism's "Make up for lost time" campaign won Gold at the 2023 Pacific Asia Travel Association for "Marketing Campaign (State & City - Global).
