PA Mohammed Riyas is all set to become the Tourism Minister in the newly-elected Left Democratic Front (LDF) 2.0 government in Kerala, which will be led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The young CPI-M leader will handling two important portfolios –Public Works Department and Tourism.
Riyas is a first-time member of the Legislative Assembly. He was elected from Beypore constituency, a port town in Kozhikode district of Kerala. A graduate in Commerce and an LLB, he was actively involved in politics as a student.
A State Committee member of the CPI-M in Kerala, Riyas is the National President of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and is married to the Chief Minister’s daughter, Veena.
Kerala was ranked as the most welcoming region in India by Booking.com and is a much sought-after destination for its eco-tourism. Despite the pandemic, many people wanted to visit the state to get closer to nature, especially because social distancing was still a requirement.
As the state deals with another lockdown and rising COVID-19 cases, Riyas will have to work harder to boost tourism in Kerala and offer tourists a wide variety of safe experiences, which will give the local economy a much-needed economic shot in the arm.
