The record
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- The Kerala government has allowed five-star and above classified bar hotels to stay open three hours beyond the permissible closing time, on payment of an additional annual rental fee, via a gazette notification dated February 13.
- The move is aimed at boosting destination weddings, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) tourism, and domestic and international conferences.
- The Kerala Travel Mart Society welcomed the decision, saying it follows industry feedback and has already drawn interest from wedding and corporate event clients who might otherwise pick destinations like Jaipur.
- The decision comes as Kerala's tourism sector is growing, with domestic arrivals up 12.46 per cent in 2025 and foreign arrivals up 11.3 per cent.
What to watch next
- Whether the government relaxes the midnight bar closure on New Year's Eve, as requested by KTM, since January 1 is a dry day
- Whether Kerala revises its legal drinking age from 23 to 21, as the industry body has suggested
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Named India · Gujarat · Jaipur · Jose Pradeep · Kerala · Kerala Government · Kerala Travel Mart Society
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