The tourism industry of Kerala is largely supportive yet not even 50% of the industry partners are associating with the Responsible Tourism (RT) Mission activities, says Rupesh Kumar, the State’s Responsible Tourism Mission Coordinator. We hope by implementing the RT Classification system, industry partners will automatically cooperate with the Mission since RT Classification is a […]
Category Archives: Interview
Hotels, Interview, Kerala, News, Round Up
[Wayanad Matters] Wayanad would be the first destination in Kerala to recover from the downturn: Prasad Manjali
22
Aug
Aug
The State and Central governments should support the tourism sector by offering moratorium on loan repayments for a period of 24 months, says Prasad Manjali, Director of Contour Group of Hotels & Resorts. They could also look at supporting salary payments of the hospitality and tourism employees, notes Manjali, who is also the Managing Director […]
India, Interview, Kerala, News, Round Up
[Wayanad Matters] Quick buck makers won’t survive this pandemic while the resilient ones will, says WTO’s Vancheeswaran
21
Aug
Aug
The President of the Wayanad Tourism Organisation (WTO), K R Vancheeswaran, says that since properties in Wayanad are largely MSMEs, the chances of them closing down are very high.The quick buck makers are bound to close down, while the more serious and resilient ones will weather the storm and get back on their feet, he […]
India, Interview, Kerala, News
Old Wine in Used Bottles: Jayachandran slams tourism associations that fail to consult stakeholders
03
Aug
Aug
VG Jayachandran, CEO of Tour Designers, says product development and research must be the main functions of the State tourism department, not marketing. At present, in the name of marketing, millions are spent which never hit the target, he says. Any organisation, which doesn’t have the participation of all stakeholders, will not find a place […]
India, Interview, Kerala, News, Round Up
Immunity passports will encourage travel and revitalise tourism
22
Jul
Jul
By Anish Kumar – CEO, Travel Planners Countries like Chile, Germany, Italy, Britain and the US are looking at providing immunity passports to people who have recovered from the coronavirus, so that they feel encouraged to travel. Immunity passport is a form of documentation given to those who have recovered from Covid-19. Those who have […]
India, Interview, Kerala, News, Round Up
Trade bodies need better co-ordination and sustained efforts to make a difference in policy making: Sajan Joseph
21
Jul
Jul
Sajan Joseph, co-founder and CEO of Breakout Hotels, feels trade bodies must be in continuous touch with the government to make a difference in policy making. The associations tend to be in contact with political authorities only during conclaves and when a crisis erupts. He says trade bodies should include people with a wider exposure, […]
Interview, Kerala, News
“It’s a pity that many tourism leaders abandoned their employees during the pandemic after enjoying the fruits of their hard toil”
17
Jul
Jul
By George Scaria, President, Tourism Professionals Club The travel and tourism industry has been the worst-hit sector across the globe, during the Covid-19 pandemic. The sector is a major contributor to India’s tax kitty, representing over 8% of the country’s GDP. It is also the second largest contributor to foreign exchange earnings. With regard to Kerala, […]
Interview, Kerala, News, Round Up
Tourism leaders are scared to speak out against authorities, instead they are trying to pamper them : Sheik Ismail
15
Jul
Jul
More than one lakh employees in Kerala’s travel and tourism sector have lost their jobs during this pandemic, says Sheik Ismail, vice-president of Concord Exotic Voyages. Many of them have turned to selling fish and vegetables to survive. He says though the industry has many associations and leaders, they have failed to raise funds for […]
02
Jul
Jul
John George, Unimoni’s national head (travel & holiday business), feels tourists should be made aware of all the measures taken by the hospitality and transportation sectors to make their travel safe and hygienic. Since people always have the basic instinct to travel, the sector will surely bounce back, he says. Excerpts from an interview: Q: […]
Hotels, Interview, Kerala, News, Round Up
Poor air connectivity to Thiruvananthapuram is stumbling block for Kerala’s medical & leisure tourism: Raj Iyer of UDS Group
19
Jun
Jun
Raj Gopaal Iyer, CEO of UDS Group of Hotels, believes Kerala should have the right marketing strategies to showcase medical and leisure tourism. The state government should come up with a proper agenda/plan to submit before the Central government, thereby helping employees retain their jobs, he says. But the biggest problem he believes is the […]
Hotels, Interview, Kerala, News, Round Up
Tourism in India perceived as business of the wealthy but that’s not the reality, says Abad’s Riaz Ahmad
18
Jun
Jun
Riaz Ahmad, managing director of Abad Hotels & Resorts, has been in the hospitality sector for many decades, braving umpteen challenges. But even for someone like him, the coronavirus pandemic has presented an unforeseen situation. In this interview he talks about how his company is preparing for the future, keeping the interest of the employees […]
Interview, Kerala, News
We overdid backwater tourism, now is the time to preserve it: Maneesha Panicker
10
May
May
Maneesha Panicker is the founder of Silk Route Escapes, an experiential travel company that wants to handpick experiences that bring you closer to India’s culture. She is a former New Yorker who knows the heart of an avid traveller. Maneesha’s latest project is Kayal, an Island Retreat in the backwaters of Kerala. At Kakkathuruthu, she […]
09
May
May
The world is grieving. The COVID-19 pandemic has created a stir all over the globe creating a sense of fear, restlessness and uncertainty. Whereas, this small state in India – Kerala – located down on the southern tip, has caught global attention with its efforts to tackle the pandemic spread. The care and foresight of […]
Interview, Kerala, News, Wellness Tourism
APS chalks out multi-pronged strategy to promote Ayurveda: Sajeev Kurup
05
May
May
Ayurveda is the biggest revenue earning sector as far as Kerala Tourism is concerned. Ayurveda tourism in Kerala comprises two categories 1. Wellness Ayurveda2. Therapeutic Ayurveda The first one is more connected to the tourism angle and are mostly represented by beach properties. This segment has always attracted great demand. Around 65% of the Ayurveda clients come into […]
Hotels, Interview, Kerala, News
Industry Voice: Hospitality sector raises concern on fixed electricity charges
01
May
May
Will the state government’s move, allowing for deferment of fixed electricity charges for a period of six months, help the hospitality industry? The sector had asked for a waiver of fixed charges, but that demand was not met. Tourismnewslive.com quizzed a number of leading industry players about this, seeking their comments. Over to their views. […]