The newly elected Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala has brought back Dr. V. Venu, IAS, as the new Tourism Secretary. A Kerala cadre IAS, Dr. Venu was Tourism Secretary in the State during the last Left government between 2006 and 2011. The election manifesto of the Left Front has unequivocally stated its target to double tourist numbers in the next five years. Known for his progressive ideas, Dr Venu was behind the Kerala Tourism’s popular Rural and Responsible Tourism initiatives, which received global acclaim in recent times.