GG News Bureau
Thiruvananthapuram, 7th July: Travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra, recently arrested on charges of espionage, was among 41 influencers hosted by the Kerala government under its tourism promotion campaign, according to an RTI reply reported by Mathrubhumi. Malhotra, a resident of Sirsa, Haryana, had been invited to showcase Kerala’s tourist destinations as part of the state’s influencer outreach initiative.
The RTI query revealed that the Kerala Tourism Department funded the travel, accommodation, and meals of all 41 selected influencers, including Malhotra, and even hired a private agency to assist them with video production during their stay.
Malhotra had visited several key tourist spots such as Kochi, Kannur, Kozhikode, Alappuzha, Munnar, and Thiruvananthapuram. She created vlogs highlighting local culture, including traditional Theyyam performances, and shared them on her YouTube channel, Travel with Jo, as well as other social media platforms.
The revelation has triggered political backlash, with opposition parties questioning the due diligence carried out by the Kerala government in selecting influencers for the campaign. Responding to the criticism, Kerala Tourism Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas clarified that the invitation was part of a routine campaign aimed at branding Kerala as a global tourist destination.
“This was part of a larger influencer campaign aimed at promoting Kerala. Everything was done transparently and in good faith,” said Minister Riyas. “This is not a government that facilitates espionage. The media must understand how government systems work. No one could have foreseen this.”
While the government has distanced itself from the espionage charges, political pressure is mounting over the selection and vetting process of participants in state-sponsored campaigns. The controversy has also raised concerns about national security implications linked to influencer engagements funded by public money.
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