New Delhi, Aug. 19 -- Every year, millions of travellers make their way to Kerala in search of something that has become increasingly scarce in an anxious world: serenity. They come for the backwaters of Alappuzha, the mist-laden hills of Munnar, the forests of Wayanad, the beaches of Kovalam and Varkala, Ayurveda, cuisine, festivals and the easy warmth of its people. International travel magazines regularly rank Kerala among the world's "must-see" destinations. Few tourism campaigns have enjoyed the enduring success of the slogan, "God's Own Country".

Yet behind this global appeal lies an uncomfortable contradiction. India's southernmost state that has little difficulty attracting visitors continues to struggle to attract investors.

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