Category: Special

This is the fourth consecutive year that Kerala and the state tourism department have been faced with a massive disaster. Covid-19 or Novel Corona Virus as it is called, came to the state soon after the industry had entered a path of recovery path from a devastating cyclone like Ockhi, the Nipah outbreak and then the three consecutive floods. Even during such hard times, Kerala tourism could register 70% growth and occupied top position in any online-search for destinations anywhere in the world. According to Google Analytics of 2018 there has been 10,252,887 sessions/visits to the Kerala Tourism website.  Kerala ... Read more

Hope all of you are safe during this period of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, thanks to the virus, one of the many things that can be noticed is that after about a decade the sound of the chirping birds can be heard clearly, the sky is crystal blue, sometimes ornamented with silver clouds. The wind seems lighter and the whispering of the swaying leaves can be heard. This is the impact that 25 days of lock-down has shown. The empty roads are the new elephant corridors, the decluttered sky is again owned by the birds and not the airplanes, the ... Read more

Meditation is not an act of doing. Meditation is the outcome that arises from the strategy of the tools applied, similar to profits being the outcome to a prescribed strategy in business. Currently it’s being prescribed as a cure for the impact of lock-down, as we are all isolated. As in business where one hires a consultant or CEO to formulate a strategy, similarly one hires a suitably awakened teacher, who has the credentials which are same as qualifications and again there are layers of awakening as there are levels of consultants. We at Shakti Prem Anand advocates a consultation ... Read more

New York is one of the largest metropolitan cities in the world, with a population of more than half of that of Kerala. The US city had enough time to combat the corona virus but it couldn’t handle the health crisis the way Kerala managed, though the south Indian state was affected pretty early by the rampaging pandemic. The Covid-19 virus first came to Kerala through a medical student who came from Wuhan, and that happened a full one month before the virus hit New York. Yet, New York couldn’t handle the virus like Kerala did. And that’s a testimony ... Read more

Kerala’s healthcare system has always enjoyed an exalted status on India’s tourism map. Medical tourism and ayurveda have been two stellar hotspots attached to the Kerala tourism brand and it’s probably fair to say that the state’s fame as a healthcare destination has gone beyond national boundaries. In yet another story that showcases Kerala’s distinct medical advantage, the Government Medical College (GMC) Ernakulam has been able to treat a British tourist and cure him of the dreaded corona virus. Brian Neil, a 57-year-old British national, who was admitted with severe COVID-19 pneumonia symptoms on March 15 has been discharged from ... Read more

Foreign tourists are increasingly singing praises of the manner in which Kerala tourism authorities and the police are handling their affairs. Rebecca Dale, a US citizen, is the latest to appreciate the efforts of the authorities in helping her find some relief and comfort during the corona outbreak. Before leaving for the US, after spending two days in quarantine in a Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) facility in Alappuzha, Dale released a video message sharing her experience. The Kerala Tourism Department has been very prompt and effective in managing the situation, she says in the video message. “I had to ... Read more

Kerala Tourism has suggested, on its Instagram handle, five books to read about the state during the lock-down. ‘The God of Small Things’ (Arundhati Roy), ‘Small Town Sea’ (Anees Salim), ‘Where the Rain is Born’ (ed. Anita Nair), ‘Ivory Throne: Chronicles of The House of Travancore’ (Manu Pillai) and the ‘Litanies of Dutch Battery’ (NS Madhavan) are the books listed. All the five books explore the soul of Kerala. For all of you locked down at home, these wonderfully written books will take you right where you want to be – in the midst of nature.

Just a few days ago, Association of Tourism Trade Organisations India (ATTOI) secretary Manu PV received an emergency call from French Embassy, Pondicherry. The caller briefed Manu about a lady sitting somewhere in a restaurant in Thiruvananthapuram. All the hotels in the vicinity had denied her entry and she was distraught. There was no place that she could go to. So, this was clearly a distress call. Manu immediately knew that this was a question of the sector’s reputation. He told the Embassy that the lady can call him for any help. “I was sure I could arrange accommodation for ... Read more

by Panchami Menon Living in Noida for almost two years have made me grow extremely fond of Sector 18 market, Gautham Budh District, Noida. Being a South Indian, what amazed me about North India is the extremity of culture. In this Sector 18 market which is adjacent to the Sector 18 metro station, you can find different types of clothes-western and ethnic, wallets and travel bags, etc and the best part is the bargaining. What would be labelled for Rs 500 can be bought for a mere Rs 250 or Rs 100 if your tongue knows how to dance. Now, ... Read more

No wonder tourists always flocked to Finland. The country has once again been crowned as the world’s happiest country, with Denmark and Switzerland in second and third sports respectively, according to a United Nations-affiliated research network. Finnish contentment stems from high levels of trust, which also underpins solid rankings across the rest of the Nordic region, the Sustainable Development Solutions Network said in the World Happiness Report released on Friday. Reliable and extensive welfare benefits, low corruption, and well-functioning democracy and state institutions are also key, as are a high sense of autonomy and freedom reported by their citizens. As ... Read more

Tourists looking at alternative travel spots With honeymoon travelers looking to either cancel their vacations or postponing them to a safer period, shares of hospitality giants like Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott have all taken a tumble globally. Almost all couples who had picked on China as their honeymoon spot, have pulled out, due to the outbreak of the deadly corona virus. Even those flying into Thailand and Cambodia have stopped in their tracks to do a rethink. The other common honeymoon destinations like Bali in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Dubai have also been affected. Countries like Iran and South Korea, ... Read more

With the monsoons on their way out and the slight nip on winter setting in, it’s time to begin planning your winter breaks! City life can be busy and may prevent you from organizing long haul vacations, but we’ve got here the top 6 places that would make for the perfect short winter break. Within comfortable driving distances of Mumbai and Pune, these are too tempting to pass! Maharashtra has the perfect winter weather, with the Sahyadris providing the cold without the chills. The range is dotted with several gems that make for amazing hideaways from the city crowds. Here ... Read more

Spreading the competitive spirit of the high-octane snake-boat races to another belt in Kuttanad region, the scenic Pulinkunnu will host this weekend the ninth round of the Champions Boat League (CBL) modelled on IPL cricket. Tropical Titans have surged ahead of their nearest competitors by a fair margin in the points tally with the 12-round pioneering event two-thirds way through and packed with prize monies totalling Rs 5.9 crore, making CBL the country’s fourth highest-paid sports tournament. The leading team, owned by the Pallathuruthy Sports Club of this coastal district, has 113 points, ahead of Raging Rowers (55) and Mighty ... Read more

The locals refer to it as the most cosmopolitan city in Israel, Israelis who live in the northern parts of Israel see it as the prefect city for holidays and shopping. Tourists sees it as an eternal sunshine city. The truth is that in Eilat, everyone can find what they are looking for. The southern tax free city of Israel located on the Red Sea offers a winning combination of sea and desert, and most importantly – ideal weather all year long and water temperature of 21C in the winters! Looking for fun in the sun? Here are a few ... Read more

Ayurveda Promotion Society (APS), in association with Kerala Tourism and India Tourism, has launched maiden International Ayurveda Ambassadors’ Tour and B2B Meet on October 25, Dhanwanthari Day. The 45 Ambassadors comprising International Ayurveda operators, agents, bloggers and media personnel from 30 countries around the world, will stay in Kerala for 12 days and discover the possibilities for Ayurveda tourism and discuss the unique health culture and Ayurvedic treatment in Kerala. Six B2B meetings will be held at Bekal, Kozhikode, Cheruthurthy, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Kollam, Kumarakom and Kovalam during the 12-day road trip across Kerala, for the visitors for direct interaction with ... Read more