Category: News

Rajasthan, famous for its historical tourism destinations, bagged three national awards this year during the National Tourism Awards 2016-17. It was announced at a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on the occasion of the National Tourism Day. Rajasthan won the sought after top position in the categories of Best Film Promotion Friendly State and Use of Information technology, Social media, and website. Meanwhile, the state shared the award for Comprehensive Development of Tourism with Goa. Kuldeep Ranka, the Principal Secretary of Rajasthan tourism department, Pradeep Kumar, Director of Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) and Punita Singh, joint ... Read more

Paragliding in Bir Billing, Himachal Pradesh Tourism development projects worth Rs 1,892 are coming up in Himachal Pradesh as per official sources. Union ministry has sanctioned the amount to strengthen the infrastructure of the tourism destinations under the scheme ‘Nai Raahein Nai Manzilein’ (new paths and new destinations)’. Under the project, the state government aims at encouraging home-stays through the private sector. Nature walks, eco-trails, treks, trips to orchards and other attractions would be promoted in these circuits. Development of infrastructure will be of utmost priority. Road connectivity, accommodation and provision of basic amenities in new places in Bir Billing, ... Read more

ACI chief Angela Gittens hands over the award to CIAL operations senior manager Manu G. (Photo Courtesy: Indian Express) Cochin International Airport (CIAL) has secured third place in the Airport Service Quality survey conducted by Airports Council International (ACI), a non-profit organisation representing the world’s airports.  The award was in the Asia-Pacific region, 5 to 15 million passengers category. CIAL achieved this award based on facilities provided by the airport, such as car parking, check-in services, food, entertainment and toilets. Around 6 lakh passengers have participated on the survey conducted by ACI. Kochi Airport, which runs on solar power, has ... Read more

Nefertiti, the Egyptian themed luxury vessel of the Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC), will be launched by the end of October, charting a new course in cruise tourism in Kerala. This was announced on Sunday by Mohammed Hanish, Managing Director of KSINC, on the sidelines of Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) 2018, the biggest tourist conclave in the country at Willingdon Island here, where the vessel was showcased. Mohammed Hanish said Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan is expected to inaugurate the luxury vessel. Equipped with 3D theatre, air conditioned hall, sun deck, banquet hall, bar – lounge and an ... Read more

Kerala made milestone advances in tourism by charting steps to stir up the crucial industry that contributes to a tenth of its economy, as the country’s biggest travel event concluded on Sunday by vowing to reinvigorate the sector recovering from last month’s natural calamity. The four-day Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) has announced plans to reinvent its decade-old responsible tourism, update customised packages, strengthen tools of publicity, broaden the tourism map and deck up heritage spots to woo more travelers to God’s Own Country. The event held from September 27-30 had 35,000 business meets involving 1,635 buyers (545 of them from 66 ... Read more

The hill state of Sikkim has got its first airport only recently and it is expected to be fully operational by October first week. The state and the residents are expecting that the new airport will bring fortune for the state in the form of tourism and agricultural development. The airport at Pakyong was inaugurated on September 24 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Spread over 990 acres, the airport is located 35 km south of Gangtok. At 4,500 feet above sea level, it is among the five highest airports in the country. “This new airport has created a sensation among ... Read more

Foreign tourist witness traditional coir making, as part of responsible tourism in Kerala The Kerala government is aiming at generating 5 lakhs jobs in the tourism sector through its responsible tourism programme in the next three years, irrespective of the setback experienced by the tourism industry following the rain and flood during August this year. “Responsible tourism will be the key to the aspiring government plan of generating 5 lakhs job opportunities by 2021,” said Rani George, Kerala Tourism Secretary. She was addressing the tourism industry in the Kerala Travel Mart at Kochi, which has been taking place since 27th ... Read more

Kerala is on its path of revival, after a month long catastrophe due to rain and flood. Various activities are going on in different parts of the state to reinstate its past glory. As part of the rebuilding endeavours, Kabani Community Tourism and Services, a Kozhikode based tourism company, is organizing an event in the name ‘Nambu – Naam Anbode (we, with love), to encourage collective farming at Wayanad. Under this programme, the organizers are planning to undertake over six acres of land to cultivate rice. Several farmers and about hundred patrons will join hands to produce rice, where the ... Read more

Photo Courtesy: CNN Residents and those who visit UAE are warned not wear inappropriate dress in public places like malls and cafes, otherwise face three years’ imprisonment and deportation for ‘harming the country’s public morals’, as reported by local news agency. The instruction came following a viral video on Twitter of an Arab woman who spoke about how she reported a “woman who was dressed inappropriately” to a mall security in Dubai. The security then provided the woman with an ‘abaya’ to cover up. “There are no context or law that regulates or controls clothing limits or set penalties for ... Read more

Gopinath Parayil and Lakshmi at the Chekkutty stall Chekkutty dolls which became a symbol of survival and hope in flood ravaged Kerala, has conquered the hearts of buyers, sellers, and all the other visitors at the Kerala Travel Mart held in Samudrika Convention Centre in Wellington Island.  Chekkutty was an initiative started to support Chendamangalam weavers who lost their stocks in the flood in August. Ernakulam district Collector Safirulla IAS, Lakshmi Menon and Gopinath Parayil at Chekkutty stall in KTM wearing Chekkutty as a mascot of resilience and hope The dolls are made from handloom sarees weaved for Onam sales, ... Read more

Eleven international companies and six domestic companies have agreed to operate from the Kannur International Airport, Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan said. “It is a matter of pride that we have been able to make progress in the construction of Kannur international airport within the last two years,” he said while presiding over the annual general meeting of the company. International airlines such as Emirates, Etihad, Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Gulf Air, Saudia Airways, Silk Air, Air Asia and Malindo Air and domestic airline companies such as Air India Express, Jet Airways, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air India ... Read more

The ongoing tenth edition of Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) in Kochi has the highest number of foreign buyers from US and UK, signalling the growing interest of visitors from these countries in Kerala. As many as 42 buyers have arrived from the US while around 40 buyers have turned up from the UK for business interactions with the sellers, being held at Samudrika and Sagara Convention Centre, Willingdon Island. Incidentally, this edition of the KTM has the highest number of foreign buyers, which stands at 545, and they have come from 66 countries. There are 37 buyers representing the UAE ... Read more

Kerala’s tourism warrants renewed approach that promotes customised service as well as night life besides technology and packages that are updated with times so as to win back young visitors to the state, experts said today. Digital media and even artificial intelligence are proving to be key requirements for tourism promotion to get newer audiences across the globe and God’s Own Country can’t be an exception, speakers told a seminar at the Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) in Kochi. All the same, “over-tourism” should not disturb the normal routine of the hosts even as Kerala should explore the scope of non-conventional ... Read more

Raviz Group of Hotels is planning to reinstate an ancient tourist circuit connecting southern Kerala with Tamil Nadu. This route, which will connect Kollam and Kovalam with Southern Tamil Nadu, was used by foreigners for tourism and trade purposes some 30 years ago. During 1970s and 80s the foreign tourists used to use the southern circuit to visit Kerala. Later it was abandoned as new tourist destinations have emerged like Kochi, Alappuzha Thekkady and Munnar. “We are planning to revive the old route with the name ‘The Copper Plate Circuit,” said Dileep Kumar, General Manager, Leela Raviz, Kovalam. The Copper Plate Circut will ... Read more

വയനാടിന്‍റെ യാത്രാനുഭവങ്ങള്‍ എക്കാലവും മനസില്‍ നിറഞ്ഞു നില്‍ക്കാന്‍ കുന്നിമണി കൊണ്ട് അലങ്കരിച്ച പാരമ്പര്യ ആഭരണമായ ചൂതുമണിക്കമ്മലുമായി ഉത്തരവാദിത്ത ടൂറിസം മിഷന്‍. കുന്നിക്കുരു കൊണ്ട് നിര്‍മ്മിക്കുന്ന ഈ സ്മരണികയുടെ പ്രകാശനം സംസ്ഥാന ടൂറിസം സെക്രട്ടറി റാണി ജോര്‍ജ്ജ് കേരള ട്രാവല്‍ മാര്‍ട്ടില്‍ നിര്‍വ്വഹിച്ചു. പക്കം(ഉചിതമായ സമയം) നോക്കി വെട്ടിയ കൈതോല മുള്ള് ചെത്തി ചീകുകയാണ് ചൂതുമണിക്കമ്മലിന്‍റെ നിര്‍മ്മാണത്തിലെ ആദ്യ പടി. കരിമരുത് കത്തിച്ച് അതിന്‍റെ ചാരത്തിന്‍റെ ചൂടില്‍ ഇത് ചുട്ടെടുക്കുന്നു. ചെറുതേന്‍ മെഴുകും ചുട്ടെടുത്ത് അതില്‍ കൈതോല വട്ടത്തില്‍ ചുറ്റിയെടുക്കും. പിന്നീട് കൊങ്ങിണിയില കൂട്ടിത്തിരുമ്മി മിനുസപ്പെടുത്തിയ കുന്നിക്കുരു മണികള്‍ തേന്‍മെഴുകില്‍ ക്രമത്തില്‍ ഒട്ടിച്ചെടുക്കുന്നതോടെയാണ് ചൂതുമണിക്കമ്മലിന്‍റെ നിര്‍മ്മാണം പൂര്‍ത്തിയാകുന്നത്. വയനാട്ടിലെ അമ്പലവയലില്‍ ഉത്തരവാദിത്ത ടൂറിസം മിഷന്‍റെ ആഭിമുഖ്യത്തിലാണ് ഇതിനുള്ള പരിശീലനം നല്‍കി വരുന്നത്. അമ്പലവയല്‍ പഞ്ചായത്തിലെ അമ്പലക്കുന്ന് ഗ്രാമത്തിലെ ഗോത്രസമുദായം തന്നെയാണ് ചൂതുമണിക്കമ്മലിന്‍റെ നിര്‍മ്മാണം നടത്തുന്നത്. പ്രാദേശികമായി സംഭരിച്ച കുന്നിക്കുരു ഉപയോഗിച്ച് 43 പേര്‍ക്കാണ് ആദ്യ ഘട്ടത്തില്‍ തോട നിര്‍മ്മാണത്തിന് പരിശീലനം നല്‍കിയത്. നാലു ... Read more