The State Tourism Department is after the ‘real’ numbers. The Department is planning a unique survey to determine the number of ‘day visitors’ to various tourism destinations in the state.

The survey would be conducted in selected tourist destinations, Tourism director Rani George said. The statistics on tourist arrivals in Kerala are incomplete as they do not include day visitors. At present, the Department pegs annual foreign and domestic tourist arrivals based on hotel occupancy. Day arrivals - in short, tourists who do not stay overnight - are not accounted for.

“Now, foreign tourist arrivals are determined on the c-form registrations. Domestic tourist numbers also are based on information on hotel accommodations,” Rani George said. The survey will be based in selected destinations and will serve to give a clearer picture of tourist arrivals in the state, tourism officials feel.