Thiruvananthapuram, Friday, January 14, 2011: The fourth edition of Grand Kerala Shopping Festival (GKSF) 2010 which began from Dec 1, 2010 has concluded on Jan 15, 2011. The shopping extravaganza has been able to attract shoppers in large numbers by creating a festive mood hitherto unseen in the State by offering attractive discounts and tempting them with mega prizes.

The fourth edition of shopping extravaganza - Grand Kerala Shopping Festival, is a Government of Kerala initiative. The event has been conceived and organized to give a big leap for the trade and commerce in Kerala. GKSF 2010 has evoked tremendous response all over the State.The event has been conceived and organized to give a big leap for the trade and commerce in Kerala.

Chairman of Kerala Tourism Development Corporation Hotels and Resorts (KTDC) Cherian Philip opined that the ongoing Grand Kerala Shopping Festival (GKSF) season four is a big boost to trade tourism in the State.

After being recognised as a world class tourist destination, Kerala was slowly emerging as an international trade centre, Cherian said in a statement. The GKSF had been able in a short time to help the State emerge as a trade centre and the shopping festival itself was turning a reputed brand. He said the government’s effort to find world market to the agricultural and industrial products of the State through tourism was strengthening the economy, he added.

The Grand Kerala Shopping Festival (GKSF) director, KN Satheesh, has termed the shopping extravaganza a huge success, judging the overall boost it has given to the trade sector in the state. Speaking to ACV News, Satheesh opined that when compared to the previous years, GKSF has evoked tremendous response this year amongst traders and shoppers. GKSF director further added that the government was expecting an increased sale of Rs 1000 crore this year when compared to the GKSF third edition.

The GKSF authorities have asked shoppers to make use of the SMS facility to win attractive prizes by purchasing goods from shops that have become partners of the GKSF. GKSF director K.N. Satheesh said shoppers should SMS the unique code on the coupon given to them from the partner shops. The number is embedded behind the scratch-and- win portion. The unique code should be forwarded as SMS by typing GKSF to 537252.

With the GKSF, the brand image of Kerala Tourism would go a long way to help upgrade the infrastructure of traditional marketing centre in Kerala.

101 kg of gold would be given as prize to those who made purchases at shops registered for the festival. The first prize of 1 kg of gold will be given to three winners each. Six winners each will get the second prize of half-a-kg of gold.

The GKSF 2010-11 is one of the largest shopping festivals organised by Kerala Tourism with the mission of converting it into an international shopping festival similar to the Dubai and the Singapore shopping festivals.

GKSF will be more attractive with the online shopping option. Grand Kerala Shopping festival is the biggest shopping festival of Asia. The whole Kerala turns into shoppers dwell during the season. Now people around the world can take part in these fest over Internet. GKSF is a great source of tax revenue to state government and Kerala tourism is also boosted through it. Great prizes, lucky draws and discounts are also awaiting the shoppers.

Online shopping will be possible with all the registered shops participating in Grand Kerala Shopping Festival.

The call centre that functions exclusively for the shopping festival has also claimed acceptance among all. The center receives queries from all the 14 districts were GKSF trade happens. The GKSF call center functions 24-hours to clear all queries and complaints (if any).

The shops that have registered under GKSF, distributes the gift coupon via the call center. This has helped GKSF to give the coupons to the respective shops on time. The call center is situated at the GKSF directorate, were around 20 people works at a time.

The call center accommodates 41 officials who work in two shifts. All queries regarding the GKSF can be cleared by dialing 0471 4155555.
The Kerala government will offer tax refunds to buyers from outside the State for purchases made at the Grand Kerala Shopping Festival.

More than 5,400 traders, including major shopping malls across the State, have taken part in the fourth edition of the festival being organised by the Tourism Department to promote trade and tourism.