Tag: ATTOI

A second wave of Covid-19 and the ensuing restrictions can eliminate the tourism sector in Kerala, the industry’s captains and workers fear, announcing they will observe May 1 as Black Day to press the state government to resolve the grave issue. The Tourism Samrakshana Samithi, while noting that the segment was struggling even amid a stimulus package from the government, said the future looked bleaker with the prospects of massive job loss and shutdown of allied businesses. Even those generating some revenue out of tourism are in dire straits, noted the umbrella body for 20 organisations. It will observe the ... Read more

In an effort to bring the tourism sector close to the well-functioning cooperative movement in Kerala and to avail its benefits to the ailing tourism fraternity, a new cooperative society named, Kerala Tourism Fraternity Social Welfare Cooperative Society Limited (KTFCS) was launched in Kerala at the aegis of Association of Tourism Trade Organisations, India (ATTOI). Minister of Tourism & Cooperative Minister Kerala, Kadakampally Surendran, launched the society at a function held at Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday the 21st FEB. The Minister in his inaugural address said that the tourism enterprises should aim to target and tap the well-established co-operative sector for ... Read more

Leading Tourism Trade association, ATTOI has requested the Hon’ble Minister of State for Tourism, Government of Kerala, to make necessary amendments to the proposed Tourism Regulatory Act Kerala (TRAK), before implementation. Vinod C.S President of ATTOI felt that TRAK proposed to be introduced and implemented by the Kerala Tourism Department, would only serve to set back rather than promote the tourism industry in Kerala. However, the Act seeks to amend the Kerala Tourism Registration and Regulation Act to address the grievances of the Kerala Tourism and to re-empower the industry in case of any misconduct and to amend the Act ... Read more

Association of Tourism Trade Organizations, India (ATTOI) has received ‘Safe Travels Stamp” from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) to follow international norms for ‘safe, secure and seamless’ journeys and stays in the post-COVID world. ATTOI will follow the norms under a ‘Safe Travels Stamp’ curated by London-headquartered WTTC, the global body for the sector, said Mr C S Vinod, President of the ATTOI which promotes tourism in various sectors and strengthens business relationships. The stamp, designed to usher in the new normal and build trust in travellers to travel again, will permit travellers to recognise those governments and ... Read more

The Kerala Tourism Department is trying to promote regional tourism through its new initiative called ‘Keralam Kanam’ or ‘Let’s see Kerala’, in which the people of the state are encouraged to visit the backwaters, beaches, hill stations and houseboats to get over the stress caused by the pandemic. The official launch of the online project www.malayaliyatra.com will be done by Kerala Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran on August 26 (Wednesday) at 12.30 pm via a video conference. With the COVID-19 devastating the tourism industry, the Kerala Tourism Department is trying its best to recapture the past glory of the industry. It is hoped ... Read more

The Association of Tourism Trade Organisations India (ATTOI) has urged the Indian government to initiate direct flights between Thiruvananthapuram and various European cities, to rekindle interest among European guests to visit the state of Kerala. ATTOI President Vinod CS has said that starting air travel services to cities like Frankfurt, London, Zurich and Dublin will help to rejuvenate the tourism sector in Kerala, especially in the post-COVID scenario. “The greater connectivity to Europe will help European travellers to visit us more often, thus contributing more foreign exchange earnings for the state,” he said. “I hope the Central government can expedite ... Read more

Leading tourism associations have come forward to congratulate the Kerala state government’s decision to announce a financial package worth Rs 455 crore, which will be used to provide loans to entrepreneurs and employees in the industry. ATTOI President Vinod CS said he would like to congratulate the State Government, Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran, Tourism Secretary Rani George and all the officials of the tourism department for putting together this package. “This is will be highly beneficial for the sector,” he said. “Covid-19 has destroyed the sector. Many had lost their jobs and entrepreneurs didn’t have a clue on how to ... Read more

COVID 19 has changed the world order and the Travel and Tourism industry has been the worst hit. In order to usher in the new normal and build trust in travellers to travel again World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has come out with a global standard. WTTC has curated a ” SAFE TRAVELS STAMP ” as the new symbol of Trust for Travel and Tourism industry. Association of Tourism Trade Organizations, India (ATTOI) has partnered with WTTC for India, to promote and propagate this trust with tourism businesses in India. The World Travel & Tourism Council represents the Travel ... Read more

The virtual webinar organised by the Association of Tourism Trade Organisations India (ATTOI), to discuss the future of tourism will be inaugurated by Kerala’s tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran later today. The webinar features two eminent individuals – Claudia Wagner, managing director of German tour operator FIT Reisen and Muralee Thummarukudy, Chief of Disaster Risk Reduction in the United Nations Environment Programme.  The theme of the webinar is “We will overcome”. While Claudia Wagner will speak on the topic ‘Impact of Covid-19 and the revival of tourism’ from 3.30-4.30 pm, Muralee Thummarukudy will deliver his talk in Malayalam on the subject ... Read more

The Association of Tourism Trade Organisations India (ATTOI) is organising a webinar on August 6, featuring two eminent individuals – Claudia Wagner, managing director of German tour operator FIT Reisen and Muralee Thummarukudy, Chief of Disaster Risk Reduction in the United Nations Environment Programme. The theme of the webinar is “We will overcome”. While Claudia Wagner will speak in English on the topic ‘Impact of Covid-19 and the revival of tourism’ from 3.30-4.30 pm, Muralee Thummarukudy will deliver his talk in Malayalam on the subject ‘Is there a spring season awaiting Kerala tourism?’, from 4.30-5.30 pm. Wagner’s session is sponsored by ... Read more

The Indian Government and the State Government of Kerala should be held responsible for their criminal negligence towards the struggling travel and tourism sector, tourism body ATTOI has contended, citing instances of employees committing suicide. While many other countries, both developed and developing, have come forward with plans to support the industry, the Indian government and the state of Kerala have ignored the sector, ATTOI President Vinod CS has said. Even neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka and states such as Himachal Pradesh have given shape to financial packages and benefits for tourism employees, but God’s Own Country hasn’t come to ... Read more

The coronavirus pandemic which has devasted the global economy by eroding millions of jobs, has resulted in worldwide lockdowns affecting freedom of movement. This has led to severe impact on business and industry, affecting the mental health of people as humanity grappled with the threat of the deadly pandemic. The lockdown period has been a period of introspection for many, as they finally got the time to rediscover themselves. In this regard, ATTOI in association with Tourismnewslive.com, would like to undertake a survey among its key stakeholders and individuals, asking them about their experiences during lockdown. The survey is sure ... Read more

The Association of Tourism Trade Organisations India (ATTOI) has urged the Prime Minister and Finance Minister to address the concerns of the Indian tourism industry without delay. Tourism, hospitality and health care sectors were expecting immediate relief measures as part of the government’s ₹20 lakh crore stimulus package. These industries were badly hit by the pandemic and hence were looking forward to some support. “But there has been no stimulus for tour operators, hotels, resorts or ayurveda hospitals who have to bear the salaries and maintenance costs even when shut,” ATTOI president Vinod CS said. The government’s lack of empathy ... Read more

The state government should immediately announce relief measures for the benefit of micro and medium scale entrepreneurs in the tourism sector, the Association of Tourism Trade Organisations India (ATTOI) President, Vinod CS has said. “Concerns of taxi drivers, guides and such other people in the unorganised sector have not been addressed. The government has promised action but nothing has come through so far,” he said. “It’s high time the government announced something substantial. We have been waiting for many weeks now. Small time tourism entrepreneurs, tour operators and homestays need help at this time. I hope the government will do ... Read more

Lock-down restrictions should be lifted in places relatively unaffected by the coronavirus so that India’s economy revives, ATTOI President Vinod CS said on Tuesday. “After May 3, complete shutdown may not be possible. We have to locate the hotspots and isolate those areas. Rest of the places should be allowed to function as usual,” he said, concerned about how the various industries across the country are facing a huge setback. He felt that the focus should be on preventing community transmission in affected areas. The affected and relatively unaffected areas have to be demarcated while maintaining access control. “Complete lockdown ... Read more