Tag: Kerala Travel Mart

A survey will be conducted seeking the possibility of offering job opportunities through tourism for people in the state’s flood-hit areas even as the August calamity has not damaged the infrastructure facilities in the sector, Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran said on Friday. “Students of Kerala Institute Tourism and Travel Studies(KITTS) will conduct the survey among the natives in this regard. It will help bring more people to the tourism sector,” he said at the Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) in Kochi. “The government conducted a “Readiness Survey” from September 1 to know if we are ready for receiving tourists. The study’s ... Read more

Kerala Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran said the state government is planning to introduce a law to prevent encroachments and illegal constructions in ecologically sensitive tourist destinations. “The government is focused on promoting tourism without exploiting nature,” he said addressing the media after visiting the Kerala Travel Mart in Kochi. “When Kodiyeri Balakrishnan was the Tourism Minister, the state government introduced a Bill preventing unscientific construction and encroachment in ecologically sensitive tourist places. However, the Bill could not become law. But Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the government have accorded due importance to the environment while promoting tourism,” he said. The ... Read more

The tourism industry in Kerala has showed its strong character post the devastating floods in August and the way it made the revival is astounding, Union Tourism Minister of State (Independent Charge) K J Alphons said. He was speaking after the inauguration of the exhibition stalls and pavilions at the tenth edition of Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) at Samudrika and Sagara Convention Centre, Willingdon Island in Kochi. “I give emphasis on Kerala Tourism’s ability to recoup after a severe natural calamity as an epitome wherever I go. We bounced back defeating all the never-seen-before challenges. It gives the positive sign that ... Read more

The Responsible Tourism stall at the Kerala Travel Mart 2018 is winning the hearts of many with its innovative, yet traditional design. The exhibition stall at the four-day KTM is bustling with activity after its inauguration by Union Tourism Minister K J Alphons. Responsible Tourism promotes community activities with focus on economic boost, environment protection and socio-cultural protection. A man pedalling an irrigation wheel, a woman braiding coconut fronds, two veterans weaving cloth, a tribal taking aim with his bow and arrow. An assemblage of such activities with renewed spirit presents a microcosm of Kerala’s rural life at the stall ... Read more

The Kerala Travel Mart 2018 has kick-started in Kochi at the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolghatty on September 27, with the Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan officially inaugurating the event by lighting the traditional lamp. More than 1600 buyers from India and abroad are in Kochi to participate in the Kerala Travel Mart. The buyers group includes representatives and heads of tourism projects and heads of tourism from the country and outside. Of the 1600 buyers, 545 are foreign buyers. “It is for the first time that we have these many buyers participating in an event in Kerala. This shows the ... Read more

Major focus to be given for responsible tourism and ecologically friendly tourism projects in Kerala, opined Pinarayi Vijayan, the Chief Minister of Kerala. The minister was addressing a gathering at the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolghatty after inaugurating the 10th edition of Kerala Travel Mart today. “The government is aiming to position Kerala in the world tourism map through promoting Responsible tourism. When a region changes as a part of responsible tourism, every section of the people will also benefit from it. The government is planning a project to promote the traditional art forms and cultural specialties of the Malabar region. ... Read more

Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the 10th edition of Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) at Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty today (September 27) at 6 pm. Union Minister of State for Tourism K J Alphons will be the chief guest at the mart. Organised by KTM Society, in partnership with Kerala Tourism, the event has Malabar Tourism as its focal theme this edition. The business-to-business meetings will be conducted at Samudrika and Sagara Convention Centre at Willington Island in Kochi from September 28 to 30. Over 30,000 meetings among 1,600 buyers from around the world and 325 sellers of Kerala’s ... Read more

Kerala tourism is planning to introduce ‘Heli Ride’ for the tourists coming on international cruise liners at the port of call. The discussions are on initial stage; however the authorities are likely launch it as a pilot programme at the forthcoming Kerala Travel Mart (KTM 2018) by offering the facility to the delegates. The programme should have approval from the Cochin Port and Navy and the discussion with the port officials are on by the tourism department and KTM organizers. Kerala based helicopter operator Chipsan Aviation may be opted to operate the heli services, as they are already meeting the ... 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

Kerala Tourism has put forth a 12-point Action Plan to overcome the crisis in the sector due to the recent floods. The time-bound action plan is aimed at increasing tourist arrivals in the upcoming peak season through aggressive marketing campaign within the country and in source markets of Kerala abroad. “Tourism programmes will not be cancelled in the name of cost control,” said Kadakmpally Surendran, Tourism Minister. He was talking to the media at Thiruvananthapuram. Cancelling tourism programmes may give an impression that Kerala is still under the chaos of flood. The ministry is planning aggressive campaigns to alleviate this ... Read more

The 2018 edition of Kerala Travel Mart (KTM), the largest gathering of tourism stakeholders in the state, will be held from 27th to 30th September, in Kochi. The inaugural session of the four-day event, being organised by the KTM Society in association with the State Tourism Department, will be held at hotel Grand Hyatt, Bolgatty, on September 27. A series of buyer-seller meets, seminars and policy deliberations will take place at Samudrika and Sagara Convention Centre at the Willingdon Island. ‘Malabar tourism’ will be the theme of this year’s KTM and will focus on the nine rivers of north Kerala. The ... Read more

Kerala is recovering from the recent rain and floods that caused devastating damages to the state’s infrastructure and economy. Tourism being one of the major revenue earners of Kerala, prompt and adequate measures are taken by the state tourism department to streamline the tourism activities. The government is gearing to launch a revival campaign – God’s Own Country 2.0. “The state’s tourism sector suffered infrastructure losses of around Rs 100 crore, while business losses count around Rs 500 crore,” said P Balakiran, Director, Kerala Tourism. However, the state is going on with the 10th edition of Kerala Travel Mart, one ... 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

Photo for representative purpose only In order to provide relief aids to the flood ridden areas of the state, tourism fraternity of Kerala in association with Kerala Tourism Department & Kerala Travel Mart Society has setup a centralized relief collection centre at University Women’s Association Hall, Jawahar Nagar, Trivandrum, near the Lions Club building. Those who wish to participate in this noble cause can send their contributions in the form of food and other daily need items. The goods  can be delivered at the collection center in University Womens Association Hall  between 7am and 10pm.  Those who cannot reach the ... Read more

After ‘Shoot the Rain’ and ‘Madhu Memorial Cricket Tournament’, tourism fraternity in Kerala is coming up with another sports event. Munnar Destination Makers (MDM) is organising a badminton tournament, in memorial of Sudheesh, who was the Manager of Munnar Cook Maker Resort and Executive member of MDM. The event will be held at the Ace Badminton Academy near East Farm, Adimali on 4th and 5th August 2018. The title sponsor of the badminton tournament is Blanket Hotel, Munnar whereas Uniqloth and Spice Country are sponsoring a cash award of Rs 20,000 and an ever rolling trophy for the winners. Sudheesh was a vibrant ... Read more