Tag: Kerala Tourism

International passengers flying into Kerala can directly observe 14 days of home quarantine, without having to spend a week in institutional quarantine. Passengers who wish to stay separately can avail the government’s paid quarantine facilities, which will be arranged in a hotel or tourist home.  Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that those who are allowed home quarantine must arrange their own private vehicles or e-taxis. They should notify the police, the local self -government departments and the district collector of their arrival.  Previously, air passengers coming into Kerala had to mandatorily spend a week in institutional quarantine. Those who ... Read more

DJ Hector Kerala Tourism often markets its rainy season as ‘Monsoon magic’, but this year there is no magic in sight. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday said the south-west monsoon has made an onset over Kerala, marking the start of the country’s four-month long rainy season. Pre-monsoon rains have already lashed many areas of the state, signalling the arrival of heavy downpour in the coming days. Tourists usually visit Kerala during monsoon to receive ayurvedic treatment. The weather is cooler, dust-free, with an overhang of moisture during this time. This helps in opening up the pores of the ... Read more

Ayurveda has played a huge role in building Kerala’s tourism brand, along with the state’s scenic backwaters and houseboats. The importance of ayurveda in boosting immunity is known to all, but the concept probably needs further marketing in international destinations. With the Covid-19 epidemic decimating economic structures around the world, ayurvedic immunity could become a powerful tool in the hands of the state government. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday inaugurated Ayur Shield – a set of ayurveda immunity clinics – to spread this message. An ayurveda community website, called ayurvedacommunity.org was also launched on the occasion, which will ... Read more

Ever since the World Health organisation has declared COVID-19 as a pandemic, Kerala has been taking all measures to contain the outbreak through strict surveillance and infection control measures. In order to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID among the drivers and passengers the following advisory is issued: Drivers & crew The drivers and crew (conductors, cleaners and helpers) should wear three-layer masks at all times during travel and while in public places. Drivers and crew shall wash hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer frequently, especially before and after getting in and out of the vehicle. ... Read more

Intersight Tours and Travels has invited articles on the unknown and unexplored tourist destinations and experiences of Kerala. The write-ups can be about hill stations, beaches, waterfalls, islands, village sights, valleys, etc which are unknown to the public. The articles can be either in English or in Malayalam and there is no restriction on the length of the articles. The name of the place, story behind the name, accessibility, two/four wheel drive details, accommodation facilities, details of nearby tourist attractions, contact details including the phone numbers, email ID, website etc. can be included. Resorts and homestays in unexplored destinations and ... 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

Kerala Tourism has stated that hotels accommodating non-resident Keralites (NRKs) on paid quarantine will have to follow the standard operating procedure (SOP) as detailed below: PRE- REQUISITES AND CONDITIONS • The guests willing for paid quarantine should register themselves with the online portal designed for paid quarantine hotel bookings. The details of persons shall also be provided. • The guest should not be having any symptoms at the time of checking in at the hotel • Only family members who have travelled with them would be allowed to share the hotel room. • The guests should be willing to abide ... Read more

There is some positive news for the tourism professionals, at last. Kerala Tourism has invited expression of interest from tour operators and transport operators of Kerala to be empanelled for providing chauffeur-driven vehicles to the Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs), stranded in various states of the country. Many of them have an opportunity now to return home, after being locked-down for months. The Kerala government will provide the NRKs an online platform for arranging vehicles to take them back to their respective places in Kerala. In this context, the payment will be made directly by the client. Tour and transport operators have ... Read more

Will the state government’s move, allowing for deferment of fixed electricity charges for a period of six months, help the hospitality industry? The sector had asked for a waiver of fixed charges, but that demand was not met. Tourismnewslive.com quizzed a number of leading industry players about this, seeking their comments. Over to their views. Chacko Paul – Managing Director -The Travancore Heritage Chowara & Lepondy, Pondicherry Hospitality industry is one of the highest tax generating as well as the biggest provider of jobs. But it is also the worst affected sector due to this Covid-19 pandemic. In this present ... Read more

A new ayurveda protocol will take shape in the post-Covid era aimed at keeping tourists safe and healthy, given that any wellness treatment would involve high degree of body contact. A set of ayurvedic associations like the Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturers Organisation of India (AMMOI), the Ayurveda Hospital Management Association of India (AHMA) and Ayurveda Medical Association of India (AMAI) have been engaged in sustained conversations with the Central government on the subject. A new protocol document has been submitted by the associations for approval and a panel is currently looking into it. Talking to Tourismnewslive.com, Baby Mathew Somatheeram, Kerala Travel ... Read more

The South Kerala Hotelier’s Forum (SKHF) has urged the state government to waive off fixed electricity charges for the next six months, instead of allowing deferment of the same. Most of the other states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat etc have already waived of fixed charges for HT consumers since March 2020. These states have big factories and industries where the fixed charges are huge. Still, these states were the first to announce such big relief measures to consumers, SKHF secretary general Manoj Babu said. “We had requested the Kerala government for waiver of fixed charges. But as the ... Read more

A tourist contingent comprising 164 Swiss and EU nationals left from Kochi on Saturday by a Swiss Air flight after being stranded in India for weeks. Kerala’s department of tourism had extended all support and assistance to the tourists who have been successfully repatriated. Out of this, 124 tourists were stranded in Kerala and 40 in the neighbouring states, said Kerala Tourism secretary Rani George. Sebastien Hug, the Consul General of Switzerland in Bengaluru was present in Kochi to oversee the repatriation and expressed happiness over the meticulous planning and arrangements made by Rajkumar, Regional Joint Director and other tourism ... Read more

ടൂറിസം മേഖലയിലെ തൊഴിലാളികൾക്കു വേണ്ടി ഒരു ഉത്തേജന പാക്കേജ് സർക്കാർ നടപ്പാക്കും. ആഭ്യന്തര ടൂറിസത്തിനു ഊന്നൽ നൽകുക ഈ സർക്കാരിനെ സംബന്ധിച്ചിടത്തോളം ഏറ്റവും പ്രധാനപ്പെട്ട കാര്യമാണ്, എന്ന് ഒരു അഭിമുഖത്തിൽ ടൂറിസം മന്ത്രി കടകംപള്ളി സുരേന്ദ്രൻ പറഞ്ഞു. ഈ മേഖലയുടെ അഭിവൃദ്ധിക്കായി ഒരു സഹകരണ സംഘം സ്ഥാപിക്കുന്നതായിരിക്കും എന്ന് മന്ത്രി കൂട്ടിച്ചേർത്തു . Q : നമസ്കാരം, ആദ്യം തന്നെ കൊറോണ വൈറസ് വ്യാപനം നിയന്ത്രിക്കുന്നതിൽ മികച്ച പ്രവർത്തനം കാഴ്ച വെച്ച ഈ സർക്കാരിനു അഭിനന്ദനങ്ങൾ. മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി ശ്രീ പിണറായി വിജയന്റെ നേതൃത്വത്തിൽ ആരോഗ്യ മന്ത്രാലയം, ടൂറിസം മന്ത്രാലയം, പോലീസ്, ആരോഗ്യ പരിപാലന പ്രവർത്തകർ എന്നിവരെല്ലാം ഏകോപനത്തോടെ നടത്തിയ പ്രവർത്തനങ്ങളെ ലോകം ശ്രദ്ധിച്ചു. ടൂറിസം മേഖലയെ സഹായിക്കുന്നതിന് ഒരു മാർക്കറ്റിംഗ് കാമ്പെയ്ൻ നിർമ്മിക്കാൻ ഈ ഉദാഹരണം ഉപയോഗിക്കാമോ? A : തീര്‍ച്ചയായും കോവിഡ് എന്ന മഹാമാരിയെ കേരളം നേരിട്ട ഈ രീതി അന്താരാഷ്ട്ര പ്രശംസ പിടിച്ച് പറ്റിയത് ഭാവിയില്‍ വിനോദ സഞ്ചാരികളെ ... Read more

The Kerala government has said the industry can defer the payment of fixed electricity charges for a period of six months. This was announced by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, after tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran discussed the matter with the state electricity board (KSEB) chairman. The request from the trade was for waiver of fixed charges. But since the fixed charge is for contracted demand, KSEB has to make this payment to the suppliers. “We have informed KSEB that unlike industries, the recovery of the hotels and resorts in the tourism industry will be delayed as it will take time for ... Read more

With job losses an imminent reality in the travel and tourism sector, the Association of Professionals in Tourism (APT) is rallying behind the employees, trying to protect their interests. In an interview, APT President Hari KC says employers in the sector should not lay-off employees in the first four months at least, and instead retain them even if at a lower pay, ensuring their day to day survival. The immediate task is to identify the most impacted employees and help them in their careers, he says. Excerpts: Q: The Association of Professionals in Tourism (APT) has been doing a great ... Read more