Kerala has great potential for Sports Tourism
Vinod CS, President of ATTOI, delivering the welcome speach
Association of Tourism Trade Organizers, India (ATTOI) has organized a seminar on Sports Tourism Potential of Kerala at 10.30 am on 1st December 2018, at Kanakakunnu Palace Auditorium, Thiruvananthapuram.
The seminar was conducted on the occasion of the 4th Trivandurm Marathon, which is taking place on December 1, 2018. The event will be officially inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at 6 PM and the marathon will start at 12:00 midnight.
Vinod CS, President of ATTOI has welcomed the speakers to the dais. Ram Kamal, former Brand Consultant of FIFA; Senan, Managind Director of Hotel Pankaj and Ajay Padmanabhan, CEO of Green Field Stadium, were the invitees to speak about the subject.
Vinod said ATTOI has been initiating various events in the state for the promotion of tourism and they are happy to be part of the Trivandrum Marathon this year.
“Sports tourism has great potential in Kerala, which has not been seriously considered by the state so far,” said Vinod.
Senan, Managind Director of Hotel Pankaj, Vinod CS, ATTOI President, Ajay Padmanabhan, CEO of Green Field Stadium, Ram Kamal, former Brand Consultant of FIFA, during the seminar
Ram Kamal explained how sports can enhance the tourism opportunities of a country. He has cited the example of Barcelona, where the 1992 Olympics have taken place. He said the opposition parties were against the government’s decision to host the Olympics event, considering the cost associated to it. However, when the event has concluded, the entire perspective has changed for Barcelona and it has become one of the major sports tourism destinations.
“We have all the required things here in Kerala to promote sports tourism. Good climate, 550 km long coast line, international standard stadiums, shooting ranges etc. However, so far not much importance has been given to promote sports in the state,” said Kamal.
“The Trivandram Marathon can become world known like Kilimanjaro, if we organize it in a more serious way and with international standards,” he added.
Registration for half Marathon
Ajay Padnabhan said Green Field stadium is the only stadium in India, which is accredited by both FIFA and ICC. It has received the award for ‘Best New Stadium’ in 2016. It is built with international standards.
“We should plan to host international sports events in Trivandrum, which will help development of the associated sectors like hospitality, transportation, entertainment etc.,” said Ajay.
“We have lots of examples in front of us, where sports events have helped the development of tourism and the related sectors. Thailand, which hosts the International Golf events, which has proved advantageous to the economy,” he added.
Though the state is having all the potentials, unless the political outlook towards tourism and sports events would not change, making positive changes would be difficult, opined Ajay.
Registration for full marathon
Senan, MD of Pankaj Hotels, narrated how we have been hosting our guests from the olden days and said how it has evolved to tourism, a revenue earning sector for the economy.
“The though the Trivandrum Marathon has been taking place for the past three years, we could not bring it into the lime light. The event should be promoted to international standards; bring celebrities, international sports stars and eminent personalities to the event, so that we can have more media coverage,” said Senan.
All the speakers were unanimous about the sports tourism potentials of Kerala, with special emphasis to Trivandrum. Unless the government and the political people change their perspective to tourism and avoid unnecessary strikes and harthals, which have been damaging the Kerala’s image as a tourist friendly state, these expectations would not be a reality.
Trivandurm Marathon is organized this year with an objective to raise fund for the Chief Ministers Distress Relief Fund. The tagline of the event is ‘Run for Kerala, I run to Rebuild. It is in event of Department of Sports, Government of Kerala, implemented by Trivandrum Runners Club. The run will be flagged off at the Manaveeyam Street at 12:00.