Category: Kerala

Kochi Airport, which has been closed since August 15 following incessant rain and flood that caused massive destruction to the state of Kerala, has resumed  operations at 2 pm today. Indigo flight 667 from Ahmadabad to Kochi was the first flight landed at the airport. As per the official circular issued by the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) on Monday, all airlines, both domestic and international, will commence with the current schedule of operations. An intimation regarding the readiness of the airport had already been given to all airlines to make sure the smooth functioning of the services. Services from ... Read more

Just a month back, Munnar was bustling with high-end preparations for the upcoming Neelakurinji season. Around 3500 people were expected to visit Munnar to see the kurinji flowers. But, now the once beautiful hillstation is in shatters after the devastating flood and land slides in the region. The hotel and restaurants association, tourism professionals and residents had begun the mass cleaning drive on Sunday. The district administration has begun the work to repair the roads and restore power and communication facilities. With an aim to restore the lost glory of the majestic hill station, the authorities have started a three day mass ... Read more

Relief efforts are in full swing in different parts of Kerala after the flood waters started receding. Tens of thousands of people are still displaced from their homes. And the tourism fraternity from Trivandrum, the capital of the state which was not affected by the floods, is rushing to the aid of the flood victims. About 170 tourism professionals from various tourism organisations and hospitality groups volunteered to clean houses in Chengannnur, where the flood was at its worst. Armed with rubber gloves and shoes, other tools and equipment, they had cleaned many houses and buildings in and around Edanadu ... Read more

This year, Malyalees around the world to have a colourless Onam festival, following the devastating floods that took around 400 lives. Over a million people are still in relief camps and at least 50,000 houses fully or partially damaged by the floods. On the occasion of Onam, Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala Chief Minister, urged the people to celebrate the festival by helping those who are suffering due to the ravaging floods, the worst disaster in the state’s history. Considered the state’s harvest festival, ‘Onam’ falls in the beginning of Chingam, the first month of Malayalam Calendar and is celebrated all over ... Read more

When Kerala has been undergoing the disaster of the century, all the Kerala people stood hand-in-hand to confront the calamity. Kadakampally Surendran, Kerala Tourism Minister has lauded the manner in which Kerala have tackled the situation.  He was talking in a meeting with the tourism officials and other dignitaries from the tourism industry.  He lauded the contribution of the tourism fraternity in the rescue operations during the floods. He praised the efforts of Kalypso Adventures, who brought rafts from the Himalayan clubs to use in the rescue operations. He also applauded the diving experts of Bond Safari, who have rescued ... Read more

Jatayu Earth Centre will be open to public from today onwards, said a press statement issued by the authorities. The ticket charge per person is Rs. 400. The tickets are being booked through the website www.jatayuearthscenter.com. “There is a great response to online ticket booking,” said the statement. The entry to the Earth Centre is only through online booking so as to restrict the crowd. On the ‘Uthradam’ day (first day of Onam), the JEC is dedicating the World’s largest bird sculpture as well as the Swiss made hi-tech cable car to the people. The inauguration which was scheduled on August ... Read more

Photo Courtesy: Seamedu Kerala has always been a favourite destination for students of foreign countries for their higher studies. Renowned universities and comparatively cheaper fees structure and cost of living makes Kerala a preferred place for higher education for foreign students. Kerala government is planning to utilize this positive atmosphere prevailing in the education sector, by promoting a unique concept of ‘Education Tourism’. By this programme, the government plan to provide education of international standards to the students, while they could enjoy the benefits of tourism. The concept is yet to get consensus from the universities; however, the Kerala Infrastructure ... Read more

The flood waters have receded from most of the places, and, the Kerala government has taken up the massive task of cleaning houses and public places filled with slush left behind. The hospitality industry in Kerala, which is also hit largely by the floods, is joining hands with the government to help clean the houses. A team of 66 members from the Thekkady Destination Promotion Council (TDPC) has volunteered in Aranmula (Central Kerala) yesterday. The team, split into teams, cleaned 30 homes all by themselves and helped people clean 20 more houses. “Tear filled eyes and heartbreaking scenes were only ... Read more

Team Bond Safari ready for the mission While Kerala has been going through the worst time in its history following the unprecedented rain and flood, lots of people from different walks of life have come forward to take the responsibility of the rescue operations. ‘Bond Safari’ of Thiruvananthapuram was such unsung heroes, who took part in the rescue operations especially in the Chengannur area. Tourism News Live got an opportunity to catch up with Jackson Peter, Managing Partner of Bond Safari, a group of professional scuba divers in Kovalam who are helping people to familiarize with under water activities, regarding their rescue operations ... Read more

Operations of the Kochi International Airport will resume on 29th August 2018 at 2:00 PM. It was decided by the authorities after a review meeting held yesterday.  The circular issued by CIAL on 22nd August states that three more days will be required to make the airport fully functional. Earlier it was declared to resume operations from 26th August. As per the circular, the date was extended as most of their staff got affected with the floods and they are out of station. Furthermore, hotels, restaurants and eateries around the airport are still closed. Communication, logistics facilities etc. are yet ... Read more

The floods in Kerala has devastated many lives, taken their shelters away and damaged many properties. Tourism and hospitality industry is one of the worst hit businesses in the state with Idukki and Munnar being marooned and devastated and roads, rail and airways become nonfunctional. Kerala’s tourism industry stakeholders have formed an independent task force to support the relief and rehabilitation work that is underway in the State. Around 28 travel, tourism and hospitality industry associations met in Kochi to form Kerala Tourism Task Force, an independent voluntary body, to support the government and the administration in different districts of ... Read more

When Kerala was badly affected by rain and flood that the state has never experienced in history, we have seen lots of heroes arisen from nowhere to help the flood ridden people. Mesh Manoharan, from Chendamangalam near Kodungallur, which was one of the most affected places, was just one among the many victims of the flood. But, the trained scuba diver he is, Mesh gave it a thought to check on the water level and the situation around, took his kayak out in the river flowing behind his home and rescued 70 people from the flood affected area. Mesh is ... Read more

The 10-km long Cherai beach is the longest beach in Kochi, and has been famous for its occasional dolphin sighting. But, for years it has been remain unexplored by tourists, and was just another beach for the locals to chill out in the evenings. Realising the potential of the Cherai beach and its pristine waters, Mesh Manoharan, an international diver, along with a group of like-minded people established Cherai Water Sports at the beach. The beach is no more a meagre evening spot, it is filled with lot of activity; Thanks to Cherai Water Sports! “We are introducing European life ... Read more

Monic and Marly of Holland hand over the relief materials to Shaji Sebastian, Pala SI, in the presence of A B Jose, Mahatma Gandhi Foundation Chairman and other dignitaries. Kerala has been receiving relief aids from around the world, on the event of the devastating floods that affected many lives. In Kottayam, two Holland nationals have come forward to extend their helping hands to the flood affected people. Monica Venena and Marly Vo Di Gomtter, studying at the Shanthi Yoga Center at Pala, were those compassionate foreigners, who have shown mercy to the miserable. They came to Pala to learn ... Read more

Since Kerala’s busiest airport, the Kochi International Airport, remain closed due to the floods, additional services will be operated from Thiruvananthapuram Airport. As per the authorities, 36 international and 12 domestic services will be operated today. Additional flights are mostly to the Middle East region. Meanwhile, 70 seater small aircrafts have started operating from Kochi naval base since yesterday. Currently, AllianceAir is flying to Bengaluru and Coimbatore from Kochi. Indigo is also planning to begin operations from Kochi soon. Resuming of services from the Kochi International Airport is still uncertain. As per the previous circular, it will remain closed until ... Read more