Kerala’s Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran will undergo self-quarantine after an employee at his official residence tested COVID-19 positive. On Tuesday, all employees at the Minister’s residence and office underwent an antigen test. It is reported that the Minister tested coronavirus negative. However, Kadakampally stated that he decided to enter self-quarantine from Tuesday afternoon as a precaution. The […]
Category Archives: Kerala
28
Jul
Jul
India’s first full-fledged international cruise terminal is ready for commissioning at the Ernakulam Wharf on Willingdon Island in Kerala. Sagarika, the ₹25-crore cruise terminal spread over 12,000 sq.ft., has facilities to handle up to 5,000 tourists arriving in cruise vessels. The commissioning was scheduled for April, but had to be postponed due the coronavirus crisis. […]
India, Kerala, News, Round Up
“When you discard your employees, who are the real stakeholders of tourism industry, you break the basic law of sustainability”
23
Jul
Jul
By George Scaria (Travelife Certified Sustainability Manager) Sustainability in tourism has been a major talking point at several industry platforms for the last few years. When it comes to the post Covid-19 new normal, sustainability will have a major role to play. The concept is based on the three Ps – People, Planet & Profit. But […]
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 […]
Hotels, India, Kerala, News, Round Up
Brunton Boatyard and Casino Hotel win the coveted WASH certification
22
Jul
Jul
Casino Hotel and Brunton Boatyard have become the first hotels in south India to get the Workplace Assessment for Safety and Hygiene (WASH) certification from the Quality Council of India (QCI), CGH Earth has announced. QCI is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry that governs ISO and NABH certifications. “CGH Earth […]
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, […]
India, Kerala, News, Round Up
V Balaram, one of India’s best known German tour guides, dies of cardiac arrest
20
Jul
Jul
One of India’s pioneering tour guides, V Balaram, passed away today morning due to cardiac arrest. He was 52-years-old. Balaram was a key driving force in popularising the Kerala Tourism brand in its initial days when very few guides could present a holistic view of Kerala and its culture. Balaram was a well-known German speaking […]
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 […]
India, Kerala, News, Top Three Stories
SC rules in favour of Travancore royal family in Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple case
13
Jul
Jul
The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that the Travancore royal family has the shebait rights over the management of Thiruvananthapuram’s iconic Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. The shebait is like the trustee of a religious endowment, as per the traditions of maintaining and preserving the idol and property. The Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is one of India’s richest temples, […]
12
Jul
Jul
Tourism News Live, India’s premier travel and tourism portal, is now read in 175 countries as it continues to expand its media platform highlighting the concerns and aspirations of the industry both in India and overseas destinations. While India continues to be the focal point of coverage, it has made significant inroads into the USA, Middle East, […]
Hotels, Kerala, News, Second Headline
Lean, efficient, productive – that’ll be the post-pandemic mantra in India’s hospitality sector: Michael Dominic, CEO, CGH Earth
07
Jul
Jul
Michael Dominic, the Chief Executive Officer of CGH Earth, one of Kerala’s best-known hospitality brands, believes efficiency and productivity will define the way forward for the Indian hospitality sector. He refers to the coronavirus crisis as a catastrophe that will force changes in the way we perceive the tourism sector and even entrepreneurship as a […]
India, Kerala, Middle East, News, Round Up
Air India Express to connect south Indian cities from Sharjah – Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, Coimbatore included
05
Jul
Jul
Air India Express, a subsidiary of Air India, has announced nine new flights connecting various south Indian cities from July 9-14. The move follows the UAE government’s objection to Vande Bharat Mission flights operated by Air India. Air India Express will operate these flights as part of the repatriation mission from Sharjah, according to the […]
Kerala, News, Round Up
Pinarayi Vijayan writes to Prime Minister Modi seeking more repatriation flights from Saudi Arabia
03
Jul
Jul
Kerala on Thursday demanded more flights to be operated from Saudi Arabia as part of the Vande Bharat Mission. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that of the 270 flights operated as part of the mission, only 20 were from Saudi. On Thursday, leaders of the Kerala Muslim […]
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: […]