Tag: Kerala floods

As torrential rain lashes Kerala, the tourism department has decided to postpone the 67th edition of the Nehru Trophy boat race, which was scheduled on Saturday (Aug 10) at Punnamada lake in Alappuzha. The tourism department has made the announcement considering the risk from the heavy rain and flood. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was slated to inaugurate the race at 2 p.m tomorrow. The Champions Boat League (CBL) was also planning to be flagged-off along with the Nehru trophy, with Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar as the chief guest cheering the crowds. A total of 79 boats, including 23 snakeboats, were scheduled ... Read more

Chekutty dolls arrived at the ITB venue Kerala’s Chekutty doll will be a center attraction in ITB Berlin this year. The organizers of Chekkuty have already installed a stall for Chekutty in ITB. A short film on Chekutty will also be premiered at the venue. The short film titled ‘Kerala the land of Chekutty’ will narrate the story of Kerala, which survived the devastating flood in August last year. The short film explains how the people of Kerala have survived the flood, with special focus on Chennamangalm, the weavers’ village. It will also show how the concept of Chekutty doll ... Read more

Munnar is in a revival mode, following the widespread blooming of Neelakurinji, the purple-blue flower, which blooms once in 12 years. And, to the north of Kerala, the Kannur International airport is all set to be operational in a couple of months time. Towards the south, Jatayu Earth Centre is calling all adventure lovers to experience the newly opened facilities. Kerala is on a revival mode, with all these major additions and is expecting more number of tourists to flock the state, with these added attractions. After the slowdown of inbound tourists due to the rain and floods, Munnar is ... Read more

While Kerala is bouncing back from the havoc caused by the recent heavy rain and devastating flood, discussions are on regarding the rebuilding of Kerala with a new vision, than just mend the damages. Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala, has put forth the concept of a ‘Nava Kerala’ (New Kerala), while re-constructing the state and invited opinions and suggestions from people from all walks of life. E M Najeeb, President of Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industry and Senior Vice President of Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), has shared his views on rebuilding Kerala, with Tourism News Live. Being ... Read more

Tourists from Australia arrive at Kochi Airport (Screen shot from video of tourism minister) Kerala has been getting back to normal after the devastating rain and flood that has caused terrific damages to the state’s infrastructure and economy. Tourism was one among the major sectors experienced widespread damages. However, with the tireless efforts of the state tourism department and the government machinery along with the selfless support of the tourism fraternity, the state has been reinstating most of its tourism destinations to normal. To add to the joy and confidence of the tourism sector, the first chartered flight carrying around ... Read more

An aerial view of the flood affected state While Kerala is bouncing back from the havoc caused by the recent heavy rain and devastating flood, discussions are on regarding the rebuilding of Kerala with a new vision, than just mend the damages. Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala, has put forth the concept of a ‘Nava Kerala’ (New Kerala), while re-constructing the state and invited opinions and suggestions from people from all walks of life. P K Anish Kumar, President of ATTOI (Association of Tourism Trade Organizations of India) is sharing some of his ideas to rebuild Kerala. Being in the ... Read more

B Dileep Kumar, Chief Editor of Tourism News Live, interacts with K J Alphons, Minister for Tourism at his office in New Delhi Union Tourism Minister Alphons Kannanthanam said Kerala Tourism, which is in crisis after the floods, will get the best possible assistance from the ministry of tourism. “Kerala will be given special attention in the first Tourism Mart in New Delhi. The tourism sector in Kerala is coming back from the devastating floods in a tremendous speed,” said the minister while talking exclusively to Tourism News Live. “It is that time of the year where the Neelakurinji has ... Read more

The Marriott India Business Council has donated Rs 50 lakh towards Kerala Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund, opened in order to help the flood victims in the state. The funds were raised from the Marriott hotels in India for granting relief to families and individuals distressed in the recent floods. Neeraj Govil, Area Vice President- South Asia, Marriott International; Ranju Alex – Multi Property Vice President, Bengaluru & Kochi and General Manager, Bengaluru Marriott Hotel Whitefield; Nasir Shaikh, Chairman of Marriott India Business Council & General Manager –The Westin Pune Koregaon Park and Lizanne Pinto, Cluster Director, Human Resources, Bengaluru & ... Read more

Kochi Airport Kerala has been getting back to normal after the devastating rain and flood that has caused terrific damages to the state’s infrastructure and economy. Tourism was one among the major sectors experienced widespread damages. However, with the tireless efforts of the state tourism department and the government machinery along with the selfless support of the tourism fraternity, the state has been reinstating most of its tourism destinations to normal. To add to the joy and confidence of the tourism sector, the first chartered flight carrying 60 tourists from Australia will land at Kochi International Airport on 15th September ... Read more

The Parliamentary Committee has extended its helping hands and offered help to the flood affected Kerala. The Committee gave the assurance during a meeting of Kovalam-based tourism/hospitality operators held on September 10. The tourism fraternity from Kerala has requested the Committee to include the state in the promotional videos of Government of India. The Tourism Department has assured that Kerala would get good visibility in the next set of promotional videos brought out by the ministry. The state tourism professionals have also requested the Committee to include Kerala in the Leave Travel Concession of central government employees. The team has ... Read more

Kerala has faced the worst flooding in over a century that has left more than 400 people dead. Incessant rain since August 8 caused the worst floods and triggered landslides, blocking access to many of the popular destinations and forcing the Kochi International airport to cancel its operations for 14 days. Looking at the damages and the devastation the floods has caused, people were skeptical about the revival of the state, especially the tourism industry. But, in less than a couple of week’s time, the state could overcome the difficulties in record time and is now ready to welcome tourists. “The ... Read more

Kerala has been in the news for the past couple of weeks due to the devastating floods, which took the entire length and breadth of the state into shackles. But, the lush green paddy fields and the backwaters in Kumarakom are all the more beautiful and refreshing after the downpour. The deep emerald of the coconut fronds and the silvery backwaters is bustling with life. After a couple of week’s fall, the God’s own Country, as it is aptly called, has resurrected and is all set to welcome globetrotters. A team of 16 foreign tour operators have landed in Kerala to be ... Read more

Kochi airport, the seventh busiest in the country, had been non-functional from August 14 to 28 owing to the devastating flood that shook the entire state between August 8 and 22. The airport authorities had first announced the shuttering of the facility till August 18, which was then extended to August 26 and further to August 29 as water levels continued to rise inundating the runway, the terminals as well as the large solar farm surrounding the airport. The engineers from government-owned consultancy Kitco have begun a survey in Nedumbassery and Kanjoor panchayat areas as a preliminary step to help ... Read more

The priority of the government after the floods is to restore and rebuild roads and bridges to the major tourist destinations in Kerala, said Kadakampally Surendran, Minister for Tourism.  The minister was addressing a gathering at ‘Kaithanginoru Kooppukai’ after felicitating tourism/hospitality professionals who were involved in rescue and relief activities during the flood. The event, organised by Kerala Tourism, honoured tourism sector personnel, including tour operators, associations, life guards and boat drivers, who were engaged in the rescue and relief operations. “The major challenge faced by the tourism sector is damage suffered by roads connecting tourism destinations. The government, however, is ... Read more

Kerala’s popular tourist destination, Thekkady, famous for the Tiger Reserve and wild life sanctuary, which has been closed following the rains, is returning to its normal days. The ban on tourism and operation of heavy vehicles, following rain and floods, has revoked last day by the District Collector. As soon as the restrictions have lifted, tourists started flowing to Thekkady. Lots of people came to Thekkady lake to enjoy boating. Members of different organizations operating in the region have come to experience boating after the havoc created by the rigorous rain. Most of the roads to Thekkady have damaged due ... Read more