Kerala Tourist News

Windermere Estate - marketing small hotels

2007-09-27T06:51:00.000Z

Stuart Henshall writes a very effective piece on his blog about marketing small properties using a blog and all the benefits of such an approach after staying at Windermere Estate in Munnar, Kerala.

I am not sure I agree with everything but I do agree with the central tenet of the argument: love and look after your website and maintain it like a pet not as a brochure.

Why a pet?
Pets need feeding everyday, they need love and attention, they need thought and they need visits the vet and brushing down. Your website needs all the same: a daily dose of content, thoughtful consideration and a brush down every so often.

Why Not a Blog?
Blogs are stochastic and free-form. Who knows where they lead. Businesses are not, they have goals. Your website needs some structure and you need to keep with it. Your website has some work to do.

Call it a working pet. You love it and enjoy it, but also you need it to do its job like a carthorse. In the case of the site: does it show off the property, does it bring in visitors, does it illustrate your difference and distinctiveness.

As Stuart Henshall points out to the Windermere owner, there are constant narratives and changing subjects to fill the pages of a website and over.

Responsible Tourism Project in Kerala

2007-09-21T09:46:00.000Z

Kerala Tourism is continuing to investigate the impact of tourism on ecology and social structure. We all know that tourism can have a major impact in terms of economic development as well as impacting upon local social structures.

Many visitors to India are keen that they should not leave a damaging footprint on Kerala and that the places they stay and activities they engage in have some form of ecological audit.

The project is focused on a number of high impact zones such as Kovalam, Kumarakom, Thekkady and Wayanad which either have high tourism numbers or are delicate structures that may be eroded quickly by tourism.

Does Kovalam suffer from too many planes

2007-09-18T21:14:00.000Z

As often as you read about Kovalam Beach, in the same line you read of the planeloads of tourists descending on the Kovalam area from Europe. For Europeans it brings to mind images of Magaluf in Spain with airports handling 40 planes a day, so it might come as a bit of a shock to discover that a solitary charter plane arrives in Trivandrum airport each week flying the My Travel logo. The rest of the week the airport serves scheduled flights and some sleepy local airlines.

Kerala package holidays are available from Manos and a few from First Choice, otherwise holiday makers need to make their own choices and fly in via Chennai or Mumbai or directly via Sri Lanka or Emirates.

Kovalam being cleared up

2007-09-18T21:02:00.000Z

In preparation for the tourist rush starting in November, school children and cadets were out in force over the past week clearing Kovalam Beach of marine litter and other detritus which is washed up every year during the heavy weather of the monsoon storms of the summer.

Kovalam beaches is one of the most popular areas of Kerala for visitors who arrive on package holidays and for beach holidays on the famous beaches of the area.

Shilpa Shetty in Kerala

2007-08-28T07:21:00.000Z

Everybody seems to love Kerala for a spot of filming. Most recent convert is big brother hero Shilpa Shetty who has decided to broaden her commercial plans with a new production company that plans to shoot a Yoga DVD in either Kovalam Beach or the Kerala backwaters.
The team are searching for exotic locations in Kerala at the moment which should not be hard and then a musical is planned. More on the story here

Le Colonial in Fort Cochin

2007-08-21T21:18:00.000Z

New part hotel, part homestay and part art gallery opens in Fort Cochin.

Le Colonial is owned by a french art collector is one of the oldest inhabited buildings in Fort Cochin (possibly most of Kerala). Although it only just opening September 2007, it is a welcome addition to the crowded boutique hotel market in Fort Cochin that already features luminaries such as Malabar House, Koder House and Brunton Boatyard. It is only a little different, but the homestay quality as though you are in Ian Fleming's house goes down well.

Selling The Monsoon

2007-05-04T07:39:00.000Z

Chasing the Monsoon, India's theme at the four day Arabian Travel Market convention, is part of its strategy to make the country a year long tourist destination. Now it plans to sell Ayurveda (its ancient system of medicine) and the monsoons to the Arab world.Taking advantage of the Arab penchant for the monsoon rains and Ayurvedic treatment, May to September is slated to become the season for monsoon and medical tourism. The newly introduced Medical Visa is one step further in this direction. Under this visa a patient along with an attendant can come to India for a period of one year, which can be extended further up to three years.
This innovative idea of selling the monsoon is a good marketing gimmick ; monsoon season being Ayurveda season especially in Kerala, which can boast of the best Ayurveda hospitals in the country.

Kovalam - one of the world's great beaches

2007-03-24T16:47:00.000Z

according to the London Daily Telegraph who state...

Kerala provides a gentle introduction to India and Kovalam, on the Malabar coast, is one of the most popular beach hangouts in the sub-continent. Its bays of white sand and coconut palms are a great place for families, with safe swimming and a good variety of beach activities, including kayaking, surfing and water skiing. Small shops selling handicrafts, jewellery and clothes line the waterfront as well as a number of excellent restaurants, which lure diners in by displaying the day's catch - from lobster to swordfish - outside. In the evening, Kovalam comes to life with performances of Kathakali, the classical dance-drama of Kerala. www.kovalam.com

For a newspaper article this sounds like tourist board talk. Its not quite like that, the swimming can be dangerous, but it is fun and way nicer than Goa.

Pongala oven burning chokes Kerala’s capital

2007-03-05T06:58:00.000Z

Thiruvananthapuram came under an umbrella of smoke belching out from hundreds of thousands firewood burning ovens that were lit to cook the pongal feast. Over 2.5 million women lined up yesterday on the streets leading to the famous Attukal Bhagavathi temple in the capital city of Kerala, cooking an offering of rice around the temple premises. The event takes place on the penultimate day of the 10-day long pongala festival and is a local holiday in the district.

Attukal Bhagavathi is believed to be an incarnation of Kannaki and is referred to in the Tamil epic “Silappathikaram”. Also referred to as the Sabarimala for women, the Attukal pongala attracts not just Hindu women but foreign women as well.

The unprecedented rush for the pongala festival began a few years back after the “Guinness Book of World Records” listed it as the only event where over a million women get together to take part in the festivities. “Since then, the numbers have been increasing every year. This year we were expecting two million devotees, but more than 2.5 million women arrived here,” said Attukal temple secretary K.P.Ramachandran Nair.

Women who arrive at least two days before pongala day manage to get their cooking place near the temple, while latecomers line up for miles to offer pongala. This year the queue stretched to almost 15 square kilometers in and around the temple. Women arrive with bricks, firewood and raw materials including rice, jaggery and coconut. They light their ovens from the fire provided by the chief priest of the temple after he lights the oven in the temple compound at 10.45 a.m.

According to the legend, after destroying Madurai in Tamil Nadu, Kannaki travelled to Kerala, where she rested for a while at Attukal. Women are said to have cooked pongala to appease Kannaki.

Shyamala Kumari, a housewife from Kollam, said, “This is the first time I am visiting the temple for the festival and I am having a great time. My relatives have told me that the goddess is very powerful and fulfills all your wishes.”

Kerala Tipples

2007-02-18T10:22:00.000Z

Much rage about some recent Mohanlal adverts that purport to encourage whisky drinking even if they are supposedly for banana chips: alcohol advertising being banned in Kerala.

Kerala has an alcohol problem compared to the rest of India: the average Kerala resident accounts for 8.3 litres of liquor every year - the highest in India, and nearly three times the national average. This from a state with 1/3 muslim who "presumably" don't drink.

Like all things in Kerala, verybody is taking sides and nobody is laughing. When it comes to social and political issues, Keralites tend to suffer from a sense of humour bypass.

The BBC website has some coverage.

Our advice: buy your spirits in duty free because what the ads don't tell you is that Keralite spirits tend to be pretty yucky!

Friendly Kerala

2007-02-10T08:50:00.000Z

Of all the states in India, Kerala is one of the most friendly and in political terms the most exotic. Their politics is every bit as spicy hot as the kerala fish curry.

In spite of the Daily Telegraph article which relates life after the judicial murder of Saddam Hussein (God rot his soul). Politics rarely seems to spill over into western visitors.

Keralites tend to stir over just about anything. Even management strike. Government workers strike. Sometimes bus drivers strike followed by bus travellers.

For visitors this impassioned ideological approach is a charming counter to the otherwise laid back tropical Kerala life style

Kerala Backwaters Driving Kerala Tourism

2006-12-04T07:08:00.000Z

Houseboats, backwaters becoming 'USP' of Kerala's tourism industry

The popularity of houseboats has returned as major tourist attractions in the state. Many find these beautiful flotels as an ideal means of exploring the beauty of the Kerala backwaters.

The number of houseboats in the Alleppey and Kottayam backwaters has increased drastically. In Alleppey alone it has increased from just 150 odd one to more than 350 in two to three years.

Houseboats or Kettu-vallams, which were once used in Kerala waterways for transporting goods from once place to another famous as rice boats, have now changed as the most wanted tourist attraction not only for domestic tourists but also for the foreigners who never miss a chance to take a 24-hour timeout in the backwaters of Kerala.

With these years tourist season remaining there from November till March, the houseboat operators and travel agents are well prepared and are looking forward for a good volume of tourists from various countries to book their houseboats and hope it will be much more than the last year.

Kerala tourism is aiming at a 20 percent increase in foreign tourist arrivals this season, while in the domestic tourists, an increase by five percent are expected this season.

Tourism that has emerged as a major sector in the State provides employment to over one million people in Kerala, which is the fastest growing tourist destination in the world. The World Travel and Tourism Council has predicted 11.6 pc growth rate for Kerala's tourism sector by 2013.

The tourism sector here hopes to get Rs. 100000 million revenue while investments to the tune of Rs. 10000 million are also expected in this sector.

PK Warrior talks of Ayurrveda

2006-12-04T07:01:00.000Z

Wise words from the manager of Kottakkal Arya Vaida Sala which is the foremost Ayurveda institution in Kerala and possibly the world.

DNA - Mumbai - New diseases, ancient remedy - Daily News Analysis

These five-star hotels and so-called spas have turned ayurveda into a money-spinning proposition. Ayurveda is for treatment, not entertainment. Even the most basic treatment takes no less than one month and these packages promise to change the life of a person in one hour,”

Kerala Foreign Tourism Grows 35% annually

2006-11-27T08:48:00.000Z

B. Suman, director of Kerala Tourism, gave a presentation of major
tourist destinations and infrastructure facilities in the state to investors and potential partners in Saudi Arabia. “The
number of foreign tourists to Kerala is increasing by 35 percent
annually since 1991..." [November 2006]

Kerala Hotels to play the Grinch this Xmas

2006-11-24T22:27:00.000Z

Season's special: Holidays set to pinch the wallet- The Economic Times

This year, premium hotels at leisure destinations across India have upped room rates by 30-35%, and have imposed a minimum-stay requirement between Christmas and New Year. Airlines are offering flights at peak rates and have closed the sale of tickets to popular destinations; these tickets will be sold at much higher rates closer to the start of the season, sources said.

Leela Kempinski’s associate head of sales at Kovalam, Prem Joseph, told ET: “We insist on a minimum 5-day stay as we don’t want to go unoccupied even for a single day. Hotels try to get maximum revenues during this time”.

It is not just the Leela Kovalam but almost all Kerala hotels are trying it on which even as a travel professional is sad. The rich are not bothered as they travel whenever they want. I worry as Sri Lanka which is Kerala's closest competitor for foreign visitors is just so much cheaper

varkala india fishing hut

2006-09-04T22:14:00.000Z

varkala india fishing hut, originally uploaded by .conor.

wonderfully fetching shot of fishing huts beside the sea at Varkala in Southern Kerala from .conor on flickr

Industry responds to ‘power girl’ tourism - Newindpress.com

2006-08-10T05:04:00.000Z

Industry responds to ‘power girl’ tourism - Newindpress.com
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Single women or “power girl” groups form at least 35 percent of the tourists coming to Kerala, especially to its homestays, farmstays and eco-lodges. The industry has responded to the trend by organising ladies-only jungle treks, cycling expeditions and even elephant safaris.

Interestingly, these ladies do not clamour for additional security. “They are empowered in all sense of the term. They just want to shake off their men and be on their own,” says Vancheeswaran of Wynberg Resorts, Wayanad.

For a state that has adopted “responsible tourism” as its new mantra, the ‘ladies only’ influx is most welcome. Says Tourism Director B Suman, “Females are more attuned to responsible tourism. They are drawn intuitively to community welfare.”

The female-driven success of responsibletravel.com underscores the point. “My big thing is to stay at eco-lodges or places with real food and real people, where you get real sense of contributing to the local economy,” says UK doctor Rachel Yearsley, who spent her last holidays alone in a homestay in Kochi.

“If women feel they can travel all by themselves across the length and breadth of the state, what better endorsement do I need,” the Tourism Director asks "

Jumbo tourism: Guruvayur temple to woo visitors

2006-08-04T06:48:00.000Z

Jumbo tourism: Guruvayur temple to woo visitors

The Kerala Tourism Department plans to convert the elephant yard attached to Sree Krishna temple in Guruvayur into a major tourist destination.

The captive elephants yard in the temple came into existence in 1975.

Sixty-five elephants will together make up one of the biggest tourist attraction in Kerala.

With the state government planning to pump Rs 5 crore into the project, tourists will get a chance to spend time with the beautiful beasts.

Visitors will also get a chance to watch the jumbos bathe, feed them their favourite snack and also get a bit of Ayurveda treatment. The project will be formally inaugurated on Friday.

"Our aim is promote tourism in the area. It is a unique place with lot of potential. We intend to implement this project with the help of Devaswom Board to ensure more and more people come to this place to watch elephants," said E K Bharat Bhushan, Principal Secretary Tourism.

Major attraction

Lakhs of devotees come to Guruvayur temple every year and each one makes it a point to visit this elephant yard here.

"It's amazing we have never seen so many elephants together. This is the first time in my life. We like the elephants very much," said a visitor.

Each of the 65 elephants were an offering at the Guruvayur temple made by devotees including former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha and Malayalam superstar Suresh Gopi.

Due to lack of space temple authorities have now stopped accepting elephants as offerings.

Authorities say maintaining them is a huge task, the pachyderms consume 11,000 kgs of palm leaves and 5000 kg of hybrid grass each day besides tonnes of bananas and rice.

Around 30,000 litres of water is required everyday to bathe the elephants, which is done by 200 mahouts.

The Devaswom Board spends Rs 3 crore each year for their upkeep and is now looking forward to their elephants becoming a major tourist attraction.

Street Fort Kochi

2006-07-25T22:28:00.000Z

kochi fort street DSC_2218 copy, originally uploaded by ezee as hell.

perhaps a unique characteristic of Fort Kochi is the sheer quietness of the streets which is entirely different to every other street in India

Alleppey cruising Postcard

2006-07-25T22:26:00.000Z

Alleppey cruising DSC_1821copy, originally uploaded by ezee as hell.

1950s look to this bright view over the bows of a houseboat in Kerala's backwaters

Kerala School Tours

2006-07-17T06:04:00.000Z

The Peninsula On-line: Qatar's leading English DailyKerala offers school tours to tourists

By John Mary

Pre-school centres, attended mostly by kids from underprivileged sections, are the latest theme on offer for discerning tourists to Kerala.

Travellers might run into kids at single-teacher, thatch-roofed kindergartens that dot Kerala villages and towns. There is roughly one pre-school centre (anganwadi) for every thousand children in the three-to-six age group.

But it was no such chance encounter for a batch of students from the UK who spent a whole day at two pre-school shelters at the Varkala beach resort, some 40 km from here, this week.

The visit has been the offshoot of a rare linkage between tourism industry and a leading public health NGO, collaborating to improve living standards of some 3,000 children in at shoreline hamlets in Varkala.

Nutritionist CR Soman who heads the NGOs, Prochild and Health Action by People, and KC Chandrahasan of Kerala Travels said: “We will arrange visits by well-meaning tourists to these centers and they will spend time with the children, as the Priory students from Lincolnshire did, singing nursery rhymes with them and sharing food. The tour operator will pass on benefits to anganvadis to improve facilities”.

Village councils, officials of the Integrated Child Development Services and social workers are also involved in the project. Under the project, Lullaby@Varkala, a glass of milk and vegetables are now being provided to children three days a week to supplement the Government-sponsored food and two pairs of uniform. Prochild looks after the visitors, charging $ 22 for a day while the local community serves lunch at $ 3.5 per head.

“By facilitating interaction between tourists and locals and by channeling the revenue for the uplift of children, women and economically weaker sections of society, Lullaby seeks to create a symbiotic relationship between tourism and the populace,” Dr Soman said.

What provoked this critical intervention was a survey conducted by Health Action by People in the anganvadis in the area which showed 50 per cent of them provide only benches as seating facility and 18 per cent provide chairs. At 15 per cent centres kids sat on the floor and the rest had miscellaneous seating arrangements.

Cana bridge Kerala, India

2006-06-27T05:00:00.000Z

≈ bridge ≈ Kerala, India ≈, originally uploaded by Jennifer Esperanza.

photo by Jennifer Esperanza of a typical backwater bridge that crosses over one of the many canals that criss cross and drain the low lying inland of Kerala

Alapuzha Station. Southern Railway, India.

2006-06-18T07:10:00.000Z

Alapuzha Station. Southern Railway, India., originally uploaded by dbtorp.

The Kayankulam-Ernakulam Passenger rolls into Alapuzha station in style behind an Erode Loco on Platform No 1. The train waiting on Platform no 2 is the Ernakulam-Alapuzha Passenger.

The India railway system is very efficient, and if the trains run more slowly than the expresses in the West, then again there is so much more to see

Fort Bekal in Northern Kerala

2006-06-17T05:54:00.000Z

bekal fort, originally uploaded by The Benevolent Order of the Scurrilous Monks.

Alappuzha Beach Wharf

2006-06-13T21:35:00.000Z

Alapuzha Beach Wharf, originally uploaded by dbtorp.

the old loading wharf that stretches out to sea from the beach at alappuzha (Alappey) in Kerala

Sunset Reflection in the Kerala Backwaters

2006-06-13T05:54:00.000Z

Sunset Reflection, originally uploaded by akshaydavis.

backwater island at Sunset in the Kerala backwaters. It really is as peaceful as this!

where the backwaters meet the sea in Kerala

2006-06-13T05:50:00.000Z

where the backwaters meet the sea, originally uploaded by Ron Layters.

in the distance is Pozhikkara beach on one side of which is the Arabian Sea, and on the other is the backwaters. The one makes the other salty.

Jeep road in Kerala

2006-06-13T05:48:00.000Z

Jeep road, originally uploaded by blackfin2.

track through a Cardamom plantation. The track itself will become unpassable during the monsoon except to locals travelling on foot, in the old style!

Sunset from Ramakkalmedu

2006-06-13T05:46:00.000Z

Sunset, originally uploaded by blackfin2.

Sunset in the Kerala ghats

Temple on the beach at Samudra

2006-06-13T05:44:00.000Z

multi coloured temple, originally uploaded by Ron Layters.

typically exuberant temple on Samudra beach in Kovalam in Kerala

Kerala Forest in the Ghats

2006-06-06T08:20:00.000Z

Kerala, originally uploaded by DJM3.

ethereal and mist filled shot in the forest in Kerala. Makes you aware of how tropical Kerala is

houseboat in the morning

2006-06-05T20:56:00.000Z

houseboat in the morning, originally uploaded by Ron Layters.

typical, but rather beautiful Kerala houseboat moored beside a backwater stretch.

IBNLive : It's 'raining' holiday packages in Kerala

2006-05-31T05:26:00.000Z

IBNLive : It's 'raining' holiday packages in Kerala
Naveen Nair

Kerala witnessed its first showers of monsoon on May 26 and the state has been receiving heavy rainfall ever since.

The rains have brought joy not only to the people but also to the tourism industry, which is hoping to make optimum use of the season.

Rain walks, food festivals, de-stress sessions and ayurvedic rejuvenation are a few packages that the tourism industry is offering to tourists who would otherwise stay away during the two months of rain.

'We have created a promotional package for this season. We have released a set of advertisements basically targeting honeymoon couples as well as executives to come and de-stress,' Director Kerala Tourism, B Suman said.

The number of tourists coming to Kerala at this time of the year is usually low but the trend is changing with the industry having introduced innovative packages.

The tourists have already started coming in to make the most of the rains.

'It's very nice to stay here now because monsoon is very good for ayurveda,' a German tourist, Diana said.

And it's not just the industry and the their tourists, but also doctors who support this claim.

'It is better to have the body cleaning and rejuvenation done at the time of the rains,' Head doctor, Manaltheeram Ayurveda Beach Village, Dr Hareendran Nair assured."

Indian Tourism Grows Strongly

2006-05-30T05:59:00.000Z

Tourism gained new grounds during last two years not only in the number of tourist arrival but also in infrastructure development and international projection of India as ideal destination.

RECORD TOURIST ARRIVAL:

India achieved a significant growth in terms of foreign tourist arrivals in the last two years. A record growth of 26.8% foreign tourist arrivals was achieved in 2004 while the growth was 13.2% in 2005, taking India’s tourist arrivals from 2.73 million in 2003 to 3.92 million in 2005, indicating a robust growth of 43.6% in the period 2003-2005.

Foreign exchange earnings from tourism have also shown a phenomenal growth, achieving an increase of 35% in 2004, and 20% in 2005 over the previous year (in dollar terms), taking India’s foreign exchange earnings from US$ 3.5 billion in 2003 to US$ 5.7 billion in 2005. World Travel and Tourism Council has estimated that demand for India Tourism will grow annually at 8.8% over the next decade, which will be the highest in the world.

INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION:

Lonely Planet has selected India amongst the top 5 destinations from 167 countries.

Condenast Traveller and i-explore has ranked India amongst top 5 preferred destinations in world.

ABTA (Association of British Travel Agency) has ranked India as No.1 amongst top 50 places for 2006.

Incredible India Campaign has been the winner of PATA gold Award for best Print Ad Campaign, PATA Gold Award for best destination campaign.

Incredible India Campaign has been ranked as the Highest recall advertisement by worldwide and has been given the Jury Award by Travelution, Netherland for the best advertising campaign for 2004.

TTG Asia has ranked the Department of Tourism as best National Tourism Organisation.

India was appointed chairperson of UNWTO task force to draw strategy for rehabilitation of tourism in the Tsunami affected areas.

India was elected to represent South Asia on the Executive Council of UNWTO, the highest policy making world tourism body represented by 150 countries.

REVIVAL OF TOURISM IN J&K

Revival of tourism in J&K has been taken up as one of the top priorities of the Government. Special package for revival of tourism in J&K has been announced. A number of projects to give a boost to tourism in J&K have been declared at a total cost of Rs.279.50 crore which include setting up of 50 tourist villages, financial support to 12 tourism authorities, establishing a new tourism circuit covering – Lakhanpur-Basoli-Bani-Bhaderwah –Kishtwar-Sinthan-Srinagar. It also includes assistance to travel agents for marketing, training in tourism industry and developing skills of youths for employment and tourism industry.

BOOST TO RURAL TOURISM:

In view of the huge development potential of tourism, 71 rural tourism projects have been sanctioned to spread tourism and its socio-economic benefits to identified rural sites having tourism potential. The capacity building programme has also been taken up in partnership with UNDP for 36 rural tourism sites so that the benefit of tourism reaches the community at large.

EFFORTS TO OVERCOME SHORTAGE OF ACCOMMODATION:

In order to meet the rising demand of accommodation due to increased growth in tourist arrivals, Department of Tourism brought out guidelines for classification of Apartment Hotels, Time Share resorts and Guest Houses. Department of Tourism also sanctioned capital subsidy for 21 budget category hotels and interest subsidy for 160 budget category hotels during last two years. 276 hotels in different categories were classified and 230 hotels were re-classified. 109 hotel projects with 7206 rooms were also approved. In addition, 23 foreign technical collaboration in hotel industry and 9 cases of foreign investments were cleared.

MEDICAL TOURISM:

Initiatives have been launched to promote Medical Tourism in partnership with the private sector to make India a Global health care destination. The accreditation norms, price banding for identified hospitals and identified specialized medical services along with a list of hospitals, which could be used for health tourism purposes have been prepared by Indian Health care Federation, a NGO affiliated to CII, on advice of the Government. A new category of visa "Medical Visa" has been introduced, which can be given for specific purpose to foreign tourists coming to India for medical treatment. The guidelines for accreditation of Ayurveda and Panchkarma centre have also been issued for implementation, to ensure required standard of services, so that holistic health tourism could be promoted.

CRUISE TOURISM:

Cruise tourism is emerging as a fast growing sector globally with huge spin offs because it generates large-scale business in all areas of travel trade. A draft concept and policy has been drawn up to make India an attractive cruise tourism destination with state of art infrastructural and other facilities at various ports and to achieve a target of 6 lakh cruise passenger landing per year by the end of 2010. Star cruises limited has launched its operation in India due to proactive policy of Government to promote cruise tourism.

ENSURING SAFETY FOR ADVENTURE TOURISTS:

The norms and standards to be followed by land, air and water based adventure activities for tourism purposes have been developed.

TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT:

The tourism infrastructure development projects worth Rs.984.81 crore were sanctioned for 570 tourism projects in all the States for creating a world-class experience to the tourists. The scheme of promoting Public Private Partnership for Large Revenue Generating tourism projects has been finalized. A new scheme of Viability Gap Funding for assisting private sector driven tourism projects has been launched.

THRUST ON NORTH EAST:

Major thrust has been given for tourism infrastructure development in North East including Sikkim with 82 projects amounting to Rs.193.71 crore sanctioned with the objective of developing it as a sustainable destination with community participation.

SETTING UP OF CONVENTION CENTRES:

With a view to increase India’s share in the growing business of Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) segment, it has been decided to support setting up of large and small Convention Centres with exhibition facilities at various metros and other cities. These centres will not only fetch a large amount of foreign exchange but also give boost to other economic activities.

DEVELOPMENT OF BUDDHIST CIRCUITS:

Infrastructure upgradation of Buddhist circuits has been taken in a big way through identification of 22 important Buddhist sites throughout the country. Government of India has sanctioned 14 projects amounting to Rs. 57.22 crore for development of tourism infrastructure in 12 sites. The infrastructure development has also been taken up through JBIC for Ajanta-Ellora amounting to Rs. 299 crore. Government has also entered into an agreement for undertaking infrastructure development at Buddhist sites of Sarnath, Kushinagar, Kapilvastu, Shravasti and Sankisa in U.P., with JBIC for a loan assistance of Rs. 395.63 crore for total project of Rs. 680 crore.

A major campaign titled “Come to India-Walk with the Buddha” was launched in the SouthEast Asian market and in Domestic market for promotion of Buddhist circuit. In addition Buddhism has also been identified for tourism development in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal & Srilanka through a common promotional campaign.

ATITHI DEVO BHAVAH CAMPAIGN:

Atithi Devo Bhavah- a nation wide campaign aimed at sensitizing key stakeholders towards tourists, through a process of training and orientation was launched. It re-instilled a sense of responsibility, towards tourists and re-enforced the confidence of foreign tourist towards India as a preferred holiday destination.

PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGNS:

Incredible India Campaign was given a new dimension with the “Colors of India” and “Wellness Campaign” in global market, which made its impact through growth of 26.8% in tourist arrivals and 31.5%. In foreign exchange earnings. This campaign also went on to win several awards internationally. In addition to the global campaign, the domestic tourist market of 367 million was targeted for the first time through a series of campaign for “Taj 350 Years”, Andaman & Nicobar islands, north eastern region including Sikkim, J&K, Eastern India, Central India, Southern India, Buddhist circuit etc. A series of “Incredible India” Road shows were also organized in important overseas markets with participation of senior level delegations from India.

INITIATIVES FOR QUALITY TOURISM MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT:

Rs. 17.32 crore has been released for opening up of three new Institutes of Hotel management one each in Haryana, Uttaranchal and Jharkhand. It has also been decided to open a new institute of Hotel Management in Chattisgarh. In addition, funds amounting to Rs. 37.00 crore were also sanctioned for upgradation of building, construction of new campuses and procurement of modern training aids for 20 institutes in the country. The capacity building schemes for Service providers was launched in its revised form to ensure quality tourism service providers through various training programmes in public private partnership. More than 40000 persons were given training under this CBSP scheme.

Training programmes for Guides were also restructured and refresher courses were also launched. Special training programmes for women service providers were also designed.

TOURISM SATELLITE ACCOUNT:

To give recognition to tourism as a source of income and employment generator in the economy, a Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) has been developed. This enables to quantify the benefits of tourism in terms of its contribution to GDP and employment (both direct and indirect impacts). India is among the few countries in the world to develop TSA. The results of the TSA study show the contribution of Tourism in GDP (both direct and indirect) as 5.90% and the share in employment both direct and indirect as 8.8 % .

WTTC & SATTE

The Government supported the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) annual summit in Delhi which attracted leading investors/hotelier from across the world. Support was also given to the South Asian Travel and Tourism Exchange (SATTE) in 2005 and 2006 in New Delhi, which were attended by Tour Operators, Travel Agents from Australia, Canada, South Africa, Germany, Israel, UK and the Latin American/Caribbean countries as delegates and also buyers and sellers from overseas and within the country.

BOOST TO DOMESTIC TOURISM:

Government decided to recognize new category of Domestic Tour Operators to give further boost to Domestic Tourism through quality service and to ensure greater consumer satisfaction.

INDIA TOURISM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (ITDC)

A radical turnaround has been recorded in ITDC from a turnover of Rs.184 crore with a net loss of over Rs.37 crore in 2001-02 to a turnover of Rs.379.78 crore with a net profit of Rs.39.03 crore in 2005-06. This includes total turnaround in flagship Ashok Hotel from a turnover of Rs.35 crore (Net loss of Rs.15.09 crore) in 2001-02 to a turnover of Rs.93.03 crore (net profit of Rs.26.29 crore approx.) in 2005-06.

Coconuts in Kerala

2006-05-21T20:55:00.000Z

Coconuts, originally uploaded by santhosh0123.

Coconuts

Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera)
Common name: Coconut Palm
Botanical name: Cocos nucifera
Family: Arecaceae

It is the only species in the Genus Cocos, and is a large palm, growing to 30 m tall, with pinnate leaves 4-6 m long, pinnae 60-90 cm long; old leaves break away cleanly leaving the trunk smooth. The term coconut refers to the fruit of the coconut palm.

Botanically, a coconut is a simple dry fruit known as a fibrous drupe (not a true nut). The husk (mesocarp) is composed of fibres called coir and there is an inner "stone" (the endocarp). This hard endocarp (the coconut as sold in the shops of non-tropical countries) has three germination pores that are clearly visible on the outside surface once the husk is removed. It is through one of these that the radicle emerges when the embryo germinates. Adhering inside wall of endocarp is the testa with a thick albuminous endosperm, the coconut meat, the white and fleshy edible part of the seed.

When the coconut is still green, the endosperm inside is thin and tender, a favourite snack. But the main reason to pick the nut at that stage is to drink its juice; a big nut contains up to one litre of refreshing drink. When the nut has ripened and the outer husk has turned brown, a couple of months later, it will fall from the tree of its own accord. At that time the endosperm has thickened and hardened, while the juice has become somewhat bitter.

Chinese Fishing Nets at Sunset

2006-05-15T21:12:00.000Z

fishing net sunset, originally uploaded by sarah stafford.

the typical fishing nets at Sunset in Kerala. The nets are growing less and less economic and more and more you see them in disrepair around Fort Cochin and Ernakulam

Chopper service to boost tourism - Newindpress.com

2006-05-14T08:06:00.000Z

Chopper service to boost tourism - Newindpress.com
Saturday May 13 2006 14:46 IST

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala tourism will be on a new high as a chopper service for tourists, the first one of its kind in the country, will take off from Kovalam on June 15. The six-seater chopper will airlift tourists from Kovalam to various tourism destinations such as Munnar, Kumarakom, Kochi and even Guruvayur.

King Rotors and Air Charter, the private company that will run the chopper service, has already received the 'no objection certificate' from the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The company has purchased its first helicopter from the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). "Once the tourist season begins in September, we will purchase our second chopper," King Rotors managing director Captain K.N.G. Nair said.

For a tourist, time and convenience are the gains. Road travel from Kovalam to Munnar takes a weary 10 hours. But in a chopper, it takes less than an hour and the journey is free of the bumps and dust.

The Tourism Department, according to director B.Suman, is testing the waters. "If this project succeeds, we can think of introducing sea and air taxis for tourists in a big way," he said.

Captain Nair is upbeat about the venture. He was the only private bidder for the project who has not demanded the Tourism Department to underwrite his losses, if any. Nair is already scouting around for a Cessna Caravan, a state-of-the-art 12-seater amphibian aircraft, to be inducted into his fleet during the next stage of his operations.

According to him, the state attracts a huge share of the high-spending tourists. Further, a number of resorts in Kovalam and in other parts of the state have already expressed their desire to have a tie-up with his company.

Nair's job is made easier by the fact that the state already has private helipads at Kochi, Kottayam, Munnar, Kumarakom, Vandiperiyar and Guruvayur. "This is enough for us to access important tourist destinations in the state," Nair said. The Tourism Department will soon construct a helipad on the KTDC land near the Samudra Hotel at Kovalam.

King Rotors is also planning to enter into an arrangement with some of the major hospitals in the state for health tourism and also for crucial services like emergency medical evacuation. Ananthapuri Hospitals here has already constructed a helipad to allow King Rotors' choppers to land.

Houseboat at Night

2006-05-13T19:04:00.000Z

DSC_2909, originally uploaded by Яªħµļ.

unusual image of a houseboat passing at night on the Kerala backwaters with their powerful bow and stern lights.

Ash and Amitabh may promote tourism in Kerala

2006-05-11T10:13:00.000Z

Tourism industry in Kerala can expect a major boost if Bollywood superstars Aishwarya Rai and Amitabh Bachchan agree to entice tourists to visit Kerala - aka God's Own Country.
It will definitely be a great win for Kerala tourism authority to get stars like Aishwarya and Amitabh as their brand ambassador - if they can afford them!
However the latest is that the Kerala tourism has yet to sign up the stars along the dotted line; talks are on as the whopping amount Bachchan and Ash normally charge is high for the authority.
Director of Kerala tourism, B. Suman, however hopes that it won't be a problem because Ash and Amitabh both have finally agreed to slash their original fees.
On asked about the possible theme of the promo, B. Suman said, 'Imagine a catchline by Ash, silhouetted against the alpenglow on the Western Ghats, revealing the secrets of ayurveda and how she copes with grueling schedules. That's the kind of promo we have in mind.' So get ready, Amitabh and Aishwarya could soon be coming to your drawing room inviting you to the state of great natural beauty Kerala, however if everything goes right only.

Here's hoping then - nice to bump into them at Marari of an evening at the bar!!

Jack Fruit in Kerala

2006-05-04T21:26:00.000Z

Jack Fruit, originally uploaded by santhosh0123.

not something that you seem to see elsewhere and real evidence that god works in wonderful and strange ways. A seriously weird looking fruit/vegetable... call it what you will

Are India's hill stations losing out?

2006-04-30T19:51:00.000Z

Are India's hill stations losing out?(The Economic Times (India) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)The budget airlines are the new 'Lords of the Skies'. A worldwide phenomena which has changed the very dynamics of the travel trade. Not to be left behind, the getting-wealthier-and-bolder Indian is also packing his/her bag more often and heading to uncharted shores.

Today, adventure tourism, wellness destinations, low-priced packages to South-East Asian countries are all collective competition. But will this then mean a potential loss for state tourism, particularly hill stations?

No destination is too far or too exotic. Add an attractive, ever-so affordable price tag, and the wander lust is stoked further.

So, while the Nile cruise takes pride of place in the travel itinerary of the Indian traveller, what is happening to the traditional "let's all go to the hills for a family holiday"?

Are honeymooners abandoning the hills for the call of the Western shores? While, most in the industry agree that the states with the hill stations, once the only options for most domestic travellers, are facing tough competition from both within the country and outside, overall domestic tourism has been growing.

Are the favourite hill spots of Shimla, Mussorie, Nainital and Ooty been left behind by the beckoning beaches of Pattaya? Are the 1829 colonial cottages of Tag's Savoy in Ooty and Oberoi's Wildflower Hall in Shimla too expensive for the Indian traveller?

Or are they being replaced by the increasing number of inbound foreign travellers? Are Kerala, Goa and Rajasthan, the all-time favourites with both Indians and foreign travellers, the only ones growing? Are honeymooners abandoning the hills for the call of the Western shores?

Take a look at the outbound figures: The outbound travel was 5.3 million in 2003 and 6.2 million in 2004. This year, it is expected to register a growth of more than 20 per cent and set to cross the 8 million mark.

In fact, the out-bound travel segment is expected to cross 15 million by 2010 and India will become second after China in this growing segment. Against this, tourist arrivals touched 4 million in 2005, and are expected to cross 5 million in 2006.

South-East Asia's figures as well as the Middle East constantly prove that Indians form a very large, important chunk of their inbound traffic. Importantly, both stay and spend have also gone up, making the Indian traveller more attractive.

Yet, the news is not all bad for India. While, most in the industry agree that the states with the hill stations, once the only options for most domestic travellers, are facing tough competition from both within the country and outside, overall domestic tourism has been growing.

In fact, for the big players like SOTC, "There is a whole shift in the market towards organised players and we have seen a 35% increase in our domestic tourism business," says chief operating officer, Outbound Travel, SOTC.

Competition for Shimla or Ooty (which has been seeing a drop in occupancies) is coming not just from the states infrastructure problems or neighbouring states.

Today, adventure tourism, wellness destinations, low-priced packages to South-East Asian countries are all collective competition. But will this then mean a potential loss for state tourism, particularly hill stations?

"Business is definitely tough and competition is cut-throat even for the high-end leisure traveller," says Ketaki Narain, director, Corporate Communications, Oberoi Group. Yet for the high-end destinations, business is not yet quite affected.

The key is to evolve with the market and include a spa at Wildflower, and wide-water rafting. As for Cecil, the location is still the lure. Yet, there have been new trends, like the growing Russian client who has been lured away from Nepal to Shimla or the UK traveller who loves the hills is increasing.

"Today's discerning traveller has a clear idea of what comfort and excellence in service imply and is willing to pay a premium for it," says Narain. A fact, Simon Cooper, president, Ritz-Carlton, agrees fully with.

"People are always seeking ultra luxury and high spenders have traditionally travelled overseas as there was no offering in this category before. With Wildflower Hall in the Himalayas, this has altered the dynamics of the market for the discerning traveller."

So, all is well for the those who have money and will spend. There is no or situation for them. It is always an 'and' situation. But what about the rest? The mid-market and the masses? The ones who keep the Kalka-Shimla shift running?

The ones who pack the meter gauge trains up the hills? All is not bad news here too. In fact, "Travel agents are now promoting hill stations such as Shimla and Kashmir to foreign travel groups.

Of course, hill stations like Mussoorie, which do not have sufficient infrastructure like water, power and are over built, are not hot spots because they are unable to cope with the demand," says K B Kachru, country head, South-East Asia, Carlson Group.

The biggest hurdle are the prices and the comparison between the short-haul foreign destinations and the hills or other domestic destinations. This has arisen because of the severe shortage of rooms, which have not been able to grow with the increasing demand.

Today, the average outbound package to short haul destinations is in the range of Rs 20-30,000 per person for 4 to 5 days, whereas by the same principle an average domestic package will be more expensive by at least 30 per cent.

"A smaller inventory invariably translates to higher room rates. And as this trend is likely to continue, the price conscience inbound tourism traveller is likely to shop for other country destinations," says Ajay K Bakaya, executive director, Sarovar Park Plaza.

Of course, new hotel constructions have started at a brisk pace, "but the impact of any significant new supply is at least three years away," he adds.

The repeat factor, a crucial monitor for tourism gauge, is what Kavi Ghei, director, TRAC Representations (India) Pvt Ltd, says, must be tracked. "Traditional tourist destinations will receive good domestic traffic because Indian options are still limited.

However, what needs to be tracked is how many of them were repeat travellers, as this is one of the major yardsticks to gauge the innovativeness and popularity of the destination. Today, destinations like Manali and Shimla are seeing young 18-24 year age bracket travellers or those which are last minute.

Tough competition can be expected for them next year, as a number of short-haul outbound destinations are planning to launch youth packages," he adds.

Another fact which wards off possibilities of competition is that social and religious travel accounts for a large percentage of trips undertaken within India. "Also, there are people who are hard pressed for time and prefer taking short vacations within India.

This has resulted in a growing emphasis on rest and relaxation, and 'wellness' and 'health' holidays. A big number of health resorts and spas have come up all over the country and they constantly woo the domestic traveller," says Rajji Rai, secretary-general, Travel Agents Association of India.

Interestingly, experts see an opportunity in the outbound threat and feel this has encouraged competition among all states, vying for a section of the pie.

"Each state is now upgrading its technology and programmes to suit the needs of tourists and promote friendly packages. The biggest success story has been Kerala," says Nakul Anand, divisional chief executive, Hotels, ITC Ltd.

What needs to be addressed is not that there is a great demand, beyond capacity, during the peak period, but has the low season demand moved from low to shoulder and has the demand of the shoulder season moved to the peak.

Further, to grab an enhanced piece of the pie, the state boards need to be far more visible, aggressive and innovative. They need to understand that the competition has changed in the new dynamic market scenario.

But the Indian outbound travel, in spite of the phenomenal increase in numbers, is still at a nascent stage when compared with other global destinations. "The domestic locations will continue to see an influx of tourists - not necessarily by choice, but perforce.

I believe the domestic sector can grow much faster than the outbound sector with competitive pricing and enhancement of hotel capacity," ends Ghei. Something to think about when you open the map of the world and choose your next destination.

Calm Munnar Landscape

2006-04-27T11:42:00.000Z

landscape, originally uploaded by nidhingpoothully.

lovely calm, verdant landscape in the ghats in Kerala.

Kerala Houseboat Shadows

2006-04-25T21:47:00.000Z

Houseboat Shadows, originally uploaded by art-sweet.

the inside of a houseboat in the warm evening light.

Fishermen in Kochin, Kerala.

2006-04-24T17:17:00.000Z

Fishermen in Kochin, Kerala., originally uploaded by Ingsoc.

fisherman's nets. You can see how much effort they take to raise and lower. Increasingly the catch is not worth the effort as the number of fish in the backwaters falls. The rocks act as counterweight

Tourists on election tour in Kerala

2006-04-20T06:45:00.000Z

IBNLive : Tourists on election tour in Kerala: "Thiruvananthapuram Kerala, touted as god's own country in tourism campaigns, is wooing tourists with elections. As the state gets ready for Assembly elections, tour operators are taking foreign tourists on campaign trails, chat with candidates and visits to constituencies.

German tourist Frank is a Left sympathizer and keenly interested politics. He is delighted that Left parties in India are part of the democratic process.

'This is a true democracy. So many people participate in elections here. It's not so open in Europe. It's a good thing,' says Frank.

The state's caste politics, too, is being sold in election packages. Tour operators admit caste politics is very complicated, but say it’s a good business opportunity.

'We believe tourists can be amateur election and political analysts and witness and understand this vibrant multiparty system we have,' says tour operator Bleesen Siby.

And you don't have to be keenly interested in politics to watch the elections. French musician Sofi came to Kerala for its famed beaches and locales. But the election fever caught up with her and she has extended her stay to witness the first phase of polling this weekend.

'I was in my hotel room and heard this music and speeches blaring from the loudspeaker. I asked my hotel manager and he said it was the elections. I was fascinated,' Sofi says.

In the tourist hotspot of Kovalam, the situation was no different. The colour of Indian democracy seemed to be soaking a group of men from China for whom this dance of democracy was a novelty.

Politics like cricket and Bollywood is, undoubtedly, a national obsession.

But the colour, sounds and the inherent complexities which Indians take for granted, are now being hard sold by the tour operators."

Vishukani - Malayali New Year

2006-04-18T10:29:00.000Z

Vishukani, originally uploaded by priya20.

picture of the Vishukani which is the Keralite new year and is celebrated with tons of crackers and family parties. First visit of the morning is to the Vishukani. This is the birthday of the Lord Krishna

Kerala misses world's best tourism destination award - Newindpress.com

2006-04-18T06:31:00.000Z

Kerala misses world's best tourism destination award - Newindpress.com
Thursday April 13 2006 00:00 IST

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Tourism has lost out to Mexico's ecotourism paradise, Sierra Gorda, in the race for the world's best tourism destination. The other finalist in the world's best destination award category was Crete's Culinary Sanctuaries in Greece.

The winners of the `Tourism for Tomorrow Awards 2006' were announced at the sixth Global Travel and Tourism Summit organised by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) at Washington in USA on April 11.

Industry experts had predicted a tourism boom if the state won the award. It could have given the state the next big boost after the National Geographic Traveller voted it as one of the ten best destinations in the world a decade ago.

But just when the state was shortlisted for the prestigious award in January this year, various environmental groups within the state flooded WTTC with e-mails that argued against the state's tourism policies. The crux of their argument was that tourism development in the state was hurting the environment and degrading its values and traditions.

“How tourism grows and develops is of great consequence to our environment and to the people whose lives its growth will impact. The Tourism for Tomorrow Award winners are demonstrating to the world that sustainable tourism can be part of business success,'' judging chairman Costas Christ said at the Global Travel and Tourism Summit.

Sierra Gorda bagged the award for its sustainable and responsible tourism practices. “Sierra Gorda Ecotours, a local government concern, provides opportunity for visitors to enjoy the biosphere while ensuring the conservation of biodiversity and contributing to the livelihoods of the communities who operate the project's three tourism lodges,'' the award committee noted.

In the Tourism for Tomorrow awards, Kerala was shortlisted only for the destination award category. There were three other categories. Camp ya Kanzi in Kenya bagged the Conservation award, Hotel Punta Islita in Costa Rica won the Investor in People award and Fairmont Hotels and Resorts in Canada was the Global Tourism Business award winner.

The awards are sponsored by WTTC members, including British Airways and Inter Continental Hotels Group. Media sponsors include BBC World, The Telegraph, Newsweek and National Geographic Adventure.

Film Posters in Kerala

2006-04-17T22:04:00.000Z

affiches de film, originally uploaded by dalva.

Kerala has a serious film culture quite different from Bollywood or Tamil films with their own big, revered stars. Every where you look in Kerala you will the moustachieod stars

Fishing in the harbour at Cochin Kochi

2006-04-17T21:32:00.000Z

F I S H E R M E N. Kochi, originally uploaded by Claude Renault.

still a relatively common sight in Cochin Harbour, but I wonder for how much longer as the number of fish in the net seems to be very small. If you in the breakfast room at the Taj Malabar you can see the fishermen paddle past setting their nets.

Waterbus on the backwaters

2006-04-09T20:25:00.000Z

40, originally uploaded by DJM3.

waterbus on a misty morning in Keral

Typical view of Periyar Lake in Kerala

2006-04-09T20:20:00.000Z

39, originally uploaded by DJM3.

distinctive view of the lake at Periyar with the trunks pointing out from the water.

the best thali ever!

2006-04-07T06:41:00.000Z

the best thali ever!, originally uploaded by sarah stafford.

very posh presentation of a classic South India dish of Thali and side dishes. In a typical setting, this would be presented on a bright green banana leaf.

Here is more information about the Taj Residency which faces the harbour in Ernakulam

Chandelier at the Jewish Synagogue

2006-04-05T21:26:00.000Z

Kochin, December 2004, originally uploaded by Sanjaya Senanayake.

nice close up detail from the synagogue in Jew Town in Fort Cochin

Bumper to Bumper traffic.

2006-04-04T21:14:00.000Z

Bumper to Bumper traffic., originally uploaded by Devesh Uba.

fun picture of a flock of ducks being herded across the canals in Kerala's backwaters. Ideally viewed from a houseboat

Eve's Beach at Kovalam

2006-03-29T21:57:00.000Z

Kovalam beach, originally uploaded by Unni K.

under Monsoon clouds and full of drama!

Kovalam Beach

2006-03-29T21:50:00.000Z

Kovalam, originally uploaded by (B).

just a lovely beach, as good as anywhere!!

Vizinjham Lighthouse on the Kovalam Beach in Kerala

2006-03-29T21:49:00.000Z

light house sDSC_0139 copya, originally uploaded by ezee as hell.

nice daytime view of the iconic light house

Munnar Sunset

2006-03-28T20:50:00.000Z

God's Own Country, originally uploaded by Devesh Uba.

beautiful and dramatic like a nineteenth century German painting.

Puppets in Kerala

2006-03-27T21:49:00.000Z

DSC_0023, originally uploaded by dorankatie.

a not infrequent site in Kerala: beautiful puppets in the market

Kathakali Performer Green Room

2006-03-27T21:41:00.000Z

Kathakali 2, originally uploaded by dorankatie.

wonderful picture of a performer preparing for a kathakali performance, applying make up in Kerala

Kathakali

2006-03-27T21:39:00.000Z

DSC_0061, originally uploaded by dorankatie.

another wonderful photograph

Kathakali

2006-03-27T21:38:00.000Z

DSC_0064, originally uploaded by dorankatie.

also see http://www.karmakerala.com/guide/Daily_Kathakali_Performing_Temple

Kathakali Theatre in Kerala

2006-03-27T21:36:00.000Z

DSC_0067, originally uploaded by dorankatie.

Chinese Nets in Kerala

2006-03-27T21:35:00.000Z

DSC_00841, originally uploaded by dorankatie.

wonderful picture of the chinese nets that are now dying out in Kerala as the fishing catch falls year on year. Within ten years there may be none in the Cochin

backwater palm tree

2006-03-27T21:29:00.000Z

backwater palm tree
Originally uploaded by sarah stafford.

seeing the toddy tappers or coconut harvesters climbing trees like this in Kerala is amazing

cardamon hills sunlight

2006-03-27T06:54:00.000Z

cardamon hills 1
Originally uploaded by sarah stafford.

classic light on the cardamom hills in Kerala.

Including photographs of Kerala from now on

2006-03-27T06:44:00.000Z

I have been a member of flick'r since 2004. I love their new blogging tool and so I am going to use it to add photos to the Kerala blog as most of the world dont use flickr and i want them to see all these beautiful pictures of Kerala. Give it up for the photographers and their rights.

the strike - part of the modern culture in Cochin Kerala

2006-03-26T21:27:00.000Z

the strike - part of the modern culture
Originally uploaded by F's Poetry.

at the port office of Cochin. Stirs and strikes are very much part of Kerala life. Sometimes they seem like a way of extending holidays by the occassional day.

The small blackboard sign on the bottom left reads "Strike"!

Nutmeg in Cochin market

2006-03-26T21:25:00.000Z

nut meg
Originally uploaded by F's Poetry.

absolutely glowing with flavour! nut meg in the market in Cochin

star anise

2006-03-26T21:07:00.000Z

star anise
Originally uploaded by F's Poetry.

another wonderful spice's shot, this time of star anise

nut mace in Kerala

2006-03-26T21:06:00.000Z

nut mace
Originally uploaded by F's Poetry.

from a market stall in Cochin.

spices shop in Cochin

2006-03-26T21:05:00.000Z

spices shop
Originally uploaded by F's Poetry.

There is something wonderful about the spices in Kerala. They suffuse all the food and in a visit to a spices stall you just feel like diving into them!

Father and son

2006-03-26T21:02:00.000Z

Father and son
Originally uploaded by Dan K.

peculiar light for Kerala, and so much more mournful that my own experience of Kerala with its lovely people and exuberant, optimistic outlook

Down Kerala's Lazy river...

2006-03-13T09:06:00.000Z

Down Kerala's lazy river ...

Kerala’s favours are slowly won, Stephen McClarence discovers un UK Sunday Times

According to the sign on the front door of his cottage, the Honorary British Consul to Cochin is “Out”. But I knock anyway.
An unmistakably British voice shouts: “Come in!” I step into a high, dim room furnished with cane chairs, faded Indian fabrics and framed Dickens illustrations. A fan whirs; a plastic fly-swatter sits on a side table; and over on the right, Kenneth Lawrence-Bandey, MBE, is lying on a day bed. The Hon British Consul, 82 years old, but is still available if British tourists get into a spot of bother, is recovering from a hip injury.

Having lived in Kerala for 50 years, he is well placed to reflect on changes to this lush, hot, clean, literate and courteous Indian state. In the 1950s, he saw most of the last resident Brits “trickle away” just as he was arriving. A decade later he watched the first backpackers trundle in.

From his home in Fort Cochin, the most tourist-drenched of Cochin’s settlements, he has seen countless tour groups pile out of their coaches to photograph the pretty Chinese fishing nets on the quay. And now he is seeing Kerala set its sights upmarket.

The state, which some still romantically call the Malabar Coast, has long had the most beguiling image: idle beaches and idyllic backwaters, mazes of rivers and lagoons, coconut palms and paddy fields of dazzling emerald green; India without the clamour. The danger is that it could go the way of Goa, where cheap beach packages have left some stretches of the coast dispiritingly downmarket. So Kerala’s tourism authorities are hoping to entice higher-spending visitors to designer hotels, exclusive plantation retreats and luxury cruises.

Outside, the suburban-looking houses and the cricket matches on the maidan, or village green, give Fort Cochin, for all its rich Dutch and Portuguese history, a hint of Oxted with banyan trees. It’s not a hectic place. When the tour groups have sped away, the souvenir-hawkers yawn and stretch, and life reverts from commerce to comatose. A man inflating his bicycle tyre can attract a crowd of two dozen onlookers. But it’s changing.

Some of the changes may be for the worse — the proliferation of gift shops and budget restaurants where young backpackers haggle over their chicken tikkas (“Six pieces of meat? I want seven!”). Other changes are undoubtedly for the better, particularly the opening of two confidently stylish hotels, designed with Western guests in mind and between them perhaps the two best reasons to come here.

The Malabar House, created from a pair of 300-year-old colonial villas, centres on a courtyard where musicians play during candlelit dinners. The design is an appealing “ethnic-chic”, with flamboyant reds and yellows, and the staff are helpful and friendly in a way that other smart hotels don’t always manage.

The Brunton Boatyard is a more formal hotel, more restrained. But its open galleries, scattered with planters’ chairs, have a calm and airy elegance. At sunset, I sit on a balcony overlooking the straits and watch the comings and goings on the Arabian Sea — packed ferries, battered old cargo boats, cruise liners strung with fairy lights. It conjures the exotic allure of the name “Cochin” as a commercial crossroads of the East, a place out of Joseph Conrad.

Next morning, I tell Mr Bandey, I’m off to Munnar, a tea-planting centre high enough in Kerala’s Cardamom Hills at 1,500m (5,000ft) to be almost, but not quite, a hill station. Has he ever been there? “Practically every weekend for 40 years,” he says dryly. “When I used to drive up in the Fifties there were hardly any other cars on the road. If you passed another vehicle, you slowed down to see who it was. If there was a visitor, it was talked about for weeks.

No longer. High production costs have cut profits in South India’s tea industry, so some of the planters, and their colleagues in coffee and cardamom, are “diversifying” into the guesthouse business. One of the best known is the Windermere Estate, a “plantation retreat” with clean, simple chalets designed for people who, in the words of Dr John Simon, the genial owner, want “long walks, sandwiches, beer and heavy books”.

The road up to Munnar switchbacks, corkscrews and hairpins. “Overtakers — beware of undertakers,” warn the signs. Rolling tea estates give way to misty peaks and forest ridges silhouetted in the setting sun. The air is either keen or mild, so it suited the Scottish planters who built Christ Church, a stocky little kirk transposed from a heathery glen to the Indian hills.

The altar may now be edged with light bulbs, like the mirror in a theatre dressing room, but the Scottish atmosphere lingers. The sexton, John Gnanadhas, talks about Mr Drake and Mr Lawrence, the last English to leave, in 1971. Their haunt was the celebrated High Range Club, grand and elegant and boasting a ballroom that converts into a theatre for the club’s dramatic society’s annual production.

An official in a blazer invites me to the committee tea before a meeting — trays of samosas, sandwiches and sponge cake with coconut icing and a glacé cherry on each slice.

As the meeting starts, I retreat to the Men Only bar, with its leather armchairs and animal heads on the walls. Members are represented by hats rather than heads. A corner commemorates the tradition of retiring members literally “hanging up their hats”. Their three-dozen sola topis and bush hats are hung with names, initials and dates: C. R. 1911-1948; F. G. G. 1919-1952; D.M.McI. 1921-1967.

It is pure Somerset Maugham. And, to cap it, framed on a door, the club rules stipulate: “Shorts, slippers, sandals and round-necked T-shirts are not permitted on Saturdays. After 7pm gentlemen are expected to be attired in jacket and tie. Ladies should be appropriately dressed.”

Backpackers wanting to haggle about chicken tikka need not apply.

Ayurveda cuts a healthy deal for Kerala tourism

2006-03-01T04:58:00.000Z

Ayurveda cuts a healthy deal for Kerala tourism

“Ayurveda has given a big boost to the state’s tourism industry and has put Kerala on the world tourism map. Of the foreign tourist, who visited the state this year, over 40 per cent had combined ayurveda in their package,” Rajendra Prasad, president of Thambu, a tribal organisation, said.

According to a forecast by the World Travel and Tourism Council and Oxford Economic Forecasting Group, the state will witness a three-fold growth in employment in the travel and tourism sector from the present 6,93,000 to 2 million by 2012.

“Apart from Ayurveda, the state is blessed with good super-specialty hospitals, which when compared to other hospitals in the world are affordable and offer better services,” sources said.

To tap Kerala’s potential in health tourism, the state government has drawn up plans to network major hospitals and strictly enforce quality standards for ayurvedic resorts. A committee comprising ayurveda experts, tour operators and officials has been formed to asse"

Kerala eyes 100 per cent rise in overseas tourist inflow in 2005

2006-02-24T11:25:00.000Z

Economy & PolicyKerala eyes 100 per cent rise in overseas tourist inflow

George Joseph / Chennai/ Kochi February 23, 2006
With the tourism season in full swing, the Kerala tourism department expects more than 100 per cent increase in the inflow of tourists from abroad.

According to a statement made by K C Venugopal, minister for tourism, in the Assembly, the government expects 8 lakh foreign tourists in the current season.

During the last season 3.43 lakh foreign tourists visited Kerala and the number had been dropped considerably due to tsunami disaster on December 26, 2004.

During last season domestic tourists inflow was 59.5 lakh and a considerable increase is expected this time according to the present trend in the domestic tourists inflow.

According to the state’s recent budget, there would be an overall growth of 11.6 percent in the tourism sector in the current fiscal and the Rs 21.71 crore budget earmarked for the development of tourism is the second largest contributor to state’s GDP.

Venugopal said that a major chunk of the foreign tourists was coming to the state in order to have treatment in Ayurveda and government had declared this year as the year of medical tourism.

He informed the house that the state’s exchequer would have an income of Rs 19,600 on an average when a foreign tourist spends one week in Kerala. The tourism department had estimated that a foreign traveller spends Rs 2,800 on an average on a daily basis while he visits the God’s own country.

The government had initiated a long-term growth strategy for the development of tourist centres and it gives prime importance to infrastructure development.

During the current year, the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation will spend Rs 14.5 crore for the development of various tourist centres and the government encourages private participation in the development of tourism centres.

As the season is in full swing, most of the Kerala hotels especially in the star category are fully booked for the next few weeks. The season will be in full swing till the end of March and the department had taken initiative to market the off-season, monsoon period, too as a period of ayurveda treatment and health rejuvenation.

Meanwhile a major chunk of foreign tourists are complaining about the hike in room rent of hotels especially in three star above. Kerala has a total number of 6,500 rooms including classified hotels and it is very difficult to get accommodation during prime season.

In the beginning of the current season hotels had increased the rate by 15 –35 percent and it is too high for an average tourist.

In Sri Lanka the average room rent is $ 35 daily while this is around $ 150 in Kerala and hence Kerala now has the disadvantage of very expensive tourists destination in the South Asian countries like Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

Share from Tourism sector to be increased: Minister

2006-02-23T02:39:00.000Z

Share from Tourism sector to be increased: Minister - India News - Webindia123.com

Thiruvananthapuram | February 21, 2006 3:42:06 PM IST

Kerala Tourism Minister K C Venugopal today informed the state Assembly that 7.7% of the Kerala's total domestic production (GDP) during 2003 was from the Tourism sector.

In a written reply, he said a study by the International Travel and Tourism Council (ITTC) had revealed that the share from the sector would increase to 10.2% by 2013.

He said the study also indicated that the sector would be one of the major job providers in the state as it would create 2,221,370 employment opportunites by 2013. The government had provided jobs to 788,600 people through this sector, he added.

With the ''vazhiyoram projects'' the government was expecting to mobilise Rs 50 crore as private investment in the sector. The government had already selected 121 investors from the proposed 250 such projects.

Though the government had issued strict directions to the investors that a minimum of five people should be provided jobs in each centres, it was expected that a minimum of 20 people would get jobs in each centres, he added."

Covered in oil and naked save for a loincloth

2006-02-12T21:19:00.000Z

Covered in oil and naked save for a loincloth: "When we saw that the services of the ayurvedic masseur had been advertised not as 'therapist' but 'The rapist', we should have known better.

But it was not until I was lying spreadeagled on a hard wooden table, covered in oil and naked except for a flimsy cotton loincloth, that I began to have second thoughts.

Another amusing tale from Rosemary Behan of the London Daily Telegraph

Kerala finalist in Tourism for Tomorrow Awards

2006-02-08T06:44:00.000Z

Kerala has been shortlisted as a finalist for the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards 2006 in the "Destination" section along with Crete and Sierra Gorda in Mexico

More details are here

Rice and easy

2006-02-01T08:04:00.000Z

Rice and easy: "
Rice and easy
Snake bites, sickness, sun stroke - you'd have to be mad to take a family to India, wouldn't you? Not if you go to Kerala, says Jon Stock."

great article from London Daily Telegraph on why taking the children to Kerala is so much fun and such fun. Did you know that Keralites call children "green chillies".

Where Travellers are going - LA Times

2006-01-30T09:09:00.000Z

Full steam ahead for global voyagers - Los Angeles Times: "India: New nonstop flights from U.S. gateways make India less grueling to get to, and domestic air service within India is improving too. From pashminas to Bollywood, India's culture is hot, even as labor outsourcing keeps the country on the news pages.

Meanwhile, a string of pampering rural retreats run by Amanresorts, Oberoi, Taj and other companies is wowing the moneyed classes. They include converted maharajahs' palaces and over-the-top tented camps, and many provide 'simply unforgettable' luxury and service, Lassers said.

With its India business in 2005 up 55% from the previous year, Abercrombie & Kent has opened a third office in India, in Jaipur. (The others are in Agra and Delhi.)"

They dont mention Kerala, but based on my own experiences, many Americans are travelling there to see what successfull development really means. Those numbers are just going to grow

Kerala's Heady Mixture of sights and scents

2006-01-30T07:37:00.000Z

Independent Online Edition > Asia: "Turmeric and cardamom and pepper and cinnamon: the combined aromas teased the taste buds and induced a welter of anticipation. Lunch was in the making as we embarked and explored our quarters...."

A two week stay in Kerala through Independent on Sunday Newspaper. Karma Kerala offers a similar two week jaunt

fumes and friendship - welcome to the rail India

2006-01-30T06:52:00.000Z

Telegraph | Travel | Packing it all in: fumes and friendship - welcome to the rail India: "It was as I sat contemplating the 31-hour journey ahead to Trivandrum and the peaceful backwaters of Kerala that I first noticed the smell... "

Amusing Sunday Telegraph article on travelling to Trivandrum from Mumbai on the train for £5.50

Kerala tourism takes a ‘responsible’ turn - Newindpress.com

2006-01-23T08:02:00.000Z

Kerala tourism takes a ‘responsible’ turn - Newindpress.com

Monday January 23 2006 08:52 IST

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The times when a mere mention of backwaters, beaches, wildlife or hill stations is enough to seduce a foreigner will soon be past. An increasing number of tourists to the state are more concerned about the effect their visit would have on the lives of the local community than the scenic splendour.

Tourism has crossed its adolescence and is gradually entering adulthood where ‘responsible travel’ is the defining slogan.

“Eco-friendliness and community participation are the two most important parameters that will in the near future decide the itinerary of a responsible traveller. Tourism is ceasing to be a one-way affair,” says Tourism Director B. Suman.

This explains the latest eco-drive of the Tourism Department. Hotels, resorts and lodgings are newly classified on the basis of their eco-friendliness.

Investors in the tourism sector with eco-wise plans are given additional incentives. Also on are moves to recruit tribals as guides for bird-watchers and trekkers visiting the various wildlife sanctuaries in the state.

The shift in tourist priorities during this year is a clear reflection of the changing times. While Kovalam registered at least a 20 percent dip in tourists, Kumbalangi model village in Kochi has seen arrivals shoot up by over 35 percent.

“Kovalam has transformed into an ugly concrete jungle, the result of skewed priorities. The tension between the locals and the beach resorts in the area too is well known.

“Kumbalangi, on the other hand, is a model village where the locals reap most of the rewards of tourism,” says Roy Mathew, whose ‘Winged Dreams’ organises charter flights to various parts of the country.

In the near future homestays run by the local communities will become more popular than five-star resorts, he forecasts.

‘Detachment’ is out and ‘integration’ is in. For a ‘responsible traveller’, the world’s highest tea plantations will not be Munnar’s biggest attraction. The chance to interact with the Muduvan tribes will be.

For him, a hut above the trees will be attractive only if it is made of sustainable hardwood. For him, a traditional ‘tharavad’ will be appealing only if it is maintained using materials bought from the local craftsmen.

The social changes are already evident. Bullock carts, once used to illegally log sandalwood from the Periyar Wildlife reserve, now drive tourists along the reserve.

Catamarans, once used by the locals for sand-mining in the Wayanad district, now take tourists for lagoon cruises.

The increasing dependence of European travellers on international sites like www.responsibletravel.com and www.ecoclub.com have given a further fillip to the ‘responsible movement’.

A number of destinations, homestays and resorts in the state are listed in these sites along with others in the world tourist map.

They promote only those kind of tours that give the traveller the opportunity to merge with the local people and support specific projects that concern conservation, employment generation and community management.

Aries Marine plans to construct steel snake boat

2006-01-20T10:27:00.000Z

Aries Marine plans to construct steel snake boat

Kochi: Aries Marine Engineering Services, claimed to be the biggest ship design and consultancy firm based in Sharjah, UAE, has come out with its new venture on fabrication of the longest 'Chundan Vallam' (Snake Boat) for tourism. The aim is to create an international market for the snake boats which will be made of steel so that it does not sink, Sohan Roy, Managing Director of Aries Marine, who is the architect of this venture, said.

The first steel snake boat, with 170 feet length, will be constructed by Aries Marine on an experimental basis and if successful, the vessel will be made of aluminium and fibreglass, he said. Roy said the snake boats made of steel could make revolutionary changes in Kerala's tourism sector since the present snake boats, made of wood are used only for certain events in a year and become white elephants during the rest of the time.

On the other hand, steel snake boats will earn revenue during the idle time, he said. These two boats could be connected to two small 'Odi Boats' making it stable and a platform can be assembled on top within a few minutes, and this could be used as a 'house boat' during tourist season, according to Roy. Any foreigner or local with no experience in rowing snake boats can row them safely, he said.

Aries had recently launched the 'botel' (back water operated tourism entertainment launch), a replacement for the present house boats, Roy said. The construction of this big snake boat, which can accommodate 170 rowers will commence soon and is likely to participate in the world renowned Nehru Trophy boat race in the Punnamada lake in Alappuzha district, which attracts thousands of domestic as well as foreign tourists. Aries Marine has over 70 engineers, 90 per cent of whom are Indians.

Hire a seaplane to reach your favourite destinations - Newindpress.com

2006-01-17T19:44:00.000Z

Hire a seaplane to reach your favourite destinations - Newindpress.com

Sunday January 15 2006 10:27 IST

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Sensing that the tourists have become road and rail weary, the state will soon give them the option of hiring a sea or air taxi to reach their favourite destinations within the state.

The plan to introduce seaplane services from popular beach and backwater destinations and the move to set up landing strips in almost all the districts in the state are at an advanced stage.

Says Tourism Director B Suman: “These are innovations whose time has come. We have been on the lookout for private players with deep pockets and risk-taking capabilities. The response has been very encouraging.”

If things work according to plan, the first-ever seaplane service in the country might take off from Kovalam to Kumarakom within three months. Suman said that the leading resorts in major beach and backwater destinations too had shown interest to form linkages among themselves to operate seaplane services.

For instance, a beach resort in Kovalam can strike a partnership with a lake resort in Kumarakom to share their clients.

Seaplanes are two to six-seater planes that take off and land in water. Finding a launch pad or landing strip for seaplanes is already been taken care of as the state possesses a 600-km-long coastline and nearly 900 km of backwater stretch.

However, vacant plots are required in all the districts to arrange landing strips for six to ten-seater air taxis. “It won’t be difficult to identify five to six acres in every district.

It won’t cost much either. The only infrastructure required is an air traffic control tower. The state should create as many small airports as possible within the state to solve its connectivity problem,” former Tourism Commissioner of India B K Goswami told this website's newspaper.

The state’s tourism has grown to international standards but its roads have failed to keep pace. “A majority of our tourists fall within the above-55 age group. They dislike the idea of travelling in a bus for more than 30 minutes.

So, a tourist in Kovalam will hesitate to take a 15-hour bus journey to Bekal,” additional tourism director Ashok Kumar Singh said. Therefore, exotic locales like Kappad, Muzhappalingad and Bekal are still well-kept secrets.

“These air taxis will be enough inspiration for tourists to explore relatively obscure destinations like Bekal,” Goswami said.

The demand for air and sea taxis has been assured, tourism planners feel.

The logic: A tourist who spends Rs 20,000 a day for staying at a premium hotel can easily shell out Rs 5,000 for hassle-free travel. And during off-season, they could be used to transport corporate heads and political leaders.

Improve infrastructure to grow tourism

2006-01-13T08:55:00.000Z

Destination India

Improve infrastructure to tap tourism

Posted online: Friday, January 13, 2006 at 0000 hours IST

News that tourist arrivals in India touched an all-time high during 2005 of 3.91 million, surpassing the 3.8 million target may have government officials breaking out in cheers. But they need to take a reality check. Far smaller countries in the Asian region with just a fraction of India’s tourism potential, like Thailand, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka, record far higher tourist arrivals. As per the World Tourism Organisation, in 2004, Thailand received 11.6 million tourists, Hong Kong 21.8 million and Sri Lanka 5 million, while India got merely 3.3 million visitors.

According to CII data, as opposed to the global average of 3.8%, tourism contributes merely 2% to India’s GDP. This must change, and it can. After all, given its geographical stretch, rich heritage, the heterogeneity of its cultures and now even medical tourism, India has a lot to offer to both the foreign traveller and domestic tourists.

In view of the sector’s importance and potential, the Planning Commission in the Tenth Plan (2002-07) increased the allocation to this sector to 0.27% from 0.7% in the Ninth Plan. A lot needs to be done to improve infrastructure, be it roads, rail and air links and airports. With not a single airport conforming to international standards, the sorry state of our airports is enough to put off any foreign traveller. And though the tourism ministry has undertaken campaigns like ‘Incredible India’ to draw visitors, such initiatives will help only if infrastructure, too, is improved. Also, most states need to do far more to attract tourists. They can, perhaps, take a leaf out of the book of newer states like Uttaranchal and Chhattisgarh that are faring quite well or the states that have traditionally attracted foreign travellers, Kerala and Goa.

Among the sector’s crucial spinoffs are forex and job generation. Forex earnings from the sector in 2005 stood at Rs 25,172 crore, a 16.5% rise over last year’s Rs 21,603 crore. As for employment, the Plan panel has estimated that tourism can generate more jobs per million rupees of investment than any other sector in the economy. Need we say more?

India-Tourism-Growth 13 percent rise in foreign tourist arrivals in India - Irna

2006-01-13T00:06:00.000Z

India-Tourism-Growth 13 percent rise in foreign tourist arrivals in India

"Foreign tourist arrivals in India in the calendar year 2005 touched an all-time high of 3.91 million compared with 3.45 million registered last year which shows a rise of 13.2 percent.

The arrival figure has exceeded the tourism ministry's target for the year of 3.8 million. For the year 2006, the ministry has set a tourist arrival target of 4.4 million.

Foreign exchange earnings in 2005 were pegged at USD 5.7 billion compared with USD 4.7 billion last year which points to an increase of 20.2 percent.

Ministry officials attribute the rise to the 'Incredible India' campaign, which has helped the market for tourist arrivals well.

Furthermore, the month of December last year saw tremendous growth with tourist arrivals pegged at 463,613 compared with 417,527 in the corresponding month in the preceding year.

Destinations like Kerala and Goa arent rise in foreign tourist arrivals in India - Irna scoring over traditional hotspots like Rajasthan and Agra. Newer states such as Chhattisgarh and Uttaranchal are giving tough competition to the established players.

'Going by this growth and launching of several innovative schemes like `Atithi Devo Bhava', `Priyadarshini' (women guides and taxi operators) and `Rural Tourism', India will become one of the hot destinations very soon,' the ministry said."

'Intoxicating' India still high on global tourism chart

2006-01-13T00:04:00.000Z

'Intoxicating' India still high on global tourism chart - Newindpress.com

A rich and diverse cultural heritage, ancient cities thriving along with hi-tech metros, a vastness that spans Himalayan heights and oceanic depths - all this and more - has made India retain its slot as the fifth most sought after tourist destination in the world for a second year in row.

The “enchanting and intoxicating” country beat South Africa, France, Italy, New Zealand and Alaska on the top ten list while it was just a slot behind China as the world's most preferred destination of 2005, according to iexplore, an online seller of adventure experiential travel, which offers ten tours in India.

China slipped to 4th position from last year's third, while last year's top-destination Peru was pushed down to the second slot by last year's runners-up Egypt. Galapagos Island in the Pacific Ocean was on the third position.

“The most frequently visited part of India is the golden triangle which includes Delhi and the magnificent monuments of Agra and Jaipur, a legacy of centuries of Muslim rule but there is much besides.

The unfairly maligned great cities of Mumbai and Kolkata (Calcutta) have a bustling, colourful charm, while the Holy City of Varanasi or the awe-inspiring temples of Tamil Nadu are worthy objects of pilgrimage.

For those who prefer more sybaritic pleasures, the palm-fringed beaches of Goa have a European charm all of their own” says the website.

It adds, “one of the fascinations of India is the juxtaposition of old and new; centuries of history from the pre-historic Indus civilization to the British Raj rub shoulders with the computer age and Bangalore's ‘Silicon Valley’ is as much a part of the world's largest democracy as the remotest village is,”.

“It is India’s vastness that challenges the imagination: the sub-continent, 3200km (2000 miles) from the mountain vastness of the Himalayas in the North to the tropical lushness of Kerala in the South, is home to one sixth of the world’s population, a diverse culture and an intoxicatingly rich history,” it points out.

South Africa and New Zealand has seen strong growth to move into the travel company's annual top ten list for the first time ever. They have climbed from 13 to 6 and from 18 to 9 respectively. France has also seen some growth to rise from 10th to 7th.

The other places showing strong growth in 2005 included morocco, Argentina and Jordan. Chile and Costa Rica, which had been among the top, ten in 2004 has moved down this year.

Founded in 1999, iexplore offers hundreds of guided tours to the farthest corners of the earth.

Among them are Northern India Gold, Southern India Gold, Northern India Silver, Crème-de la Crème, the Palace on Wheels tour, India on Railways and Tiger Trails in India.

Cutting a path - Express Hospitality

2006-01-11T09:23:00.000Z

Cutting a path - Express Hospitality: "Cutting a path

In their quest for offering guests the ultimate holiday experience, leading hotel chains and standalone properties are increasingly taking the road less travelled. By setting up properties in out-of-the-ordinary tourist destinations, hotels are giving tourism the much needed fillip. Reema Sisodia finds out the challenges hoteliers face in investing their money in lesser known destinations"

Chill out in Kerala : HindustanTimes.com

2006-01-10T07:40:00.000Z

Chill out in Kerala : HindustanTimes.com: "Chill out in Kerala

Ramesh Babu

Thiruvananthapuram, January 10, 2006

Looking for a way to beat the cold? Chill out in Kerala, like the country's rich and powerful are doing. Bureaucrats, celebrities and businessmen are all heading south to the sun-kissed beaches and balmy backwaters of God's Own Country to escape the icy blast. And the state tourism industry is loving it.

Officials point out that there has been at least a 50 per cent hike in people calling up to inquire about travel packages in the last two weeks alone. The majority is from Delhi and neighbouring states. Most are ready to shell out exorbitant prices for a place to stay.

Away from the prying eyes of the media, human resource development minister Arjun Singh spent a quite week in Kovalam's renowned beach resort. Minister for rural development Raghuvansh Prasad is not far behind. He arrives here on Monday with a jumbo parliamentary consultative committee -- 22 MPs and umpteen bureaucrats -- in tow. With most hotels brimming with tourists, government officials are at a fix as to where to put them up.

Foreigners are also warming up to Kerala. Afghan foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah and his six-member family are in Kochi on a private visit. Bowled over by the lush backwaters, Chinese ambassador Sun Yuxi had even suggested Alapuzha as a possible venue for the next round of India-China talks.

Most VIPs and celebrities, however, want to travel incognito. "They make that a condition before finalising their itinerary," managing director of Kerala Travels Chandrahasan said. Billionaire Owsley Brown, CEO of the Brown Forman, largest wine and spirit firm, was here for five days. Only when slipped out of the country did the media get a whiff.

"Besides politicians and celebrities, a lot of business meetings, conventions and exhibition are also heading for Kerala. For most MNCs and IT firms, this is the perfect way to mix business with pleasure," E.M. Najeeb, a leading tour operator of the state said.

Muhamma panchayat to launch bio-park - Newindpress.com

2006-01-08T10:35:00.000Z

Muhamma panchayat to launch bio-park
Sunday January 8 2006 11:27 IST

ALAPPUZHA: An attempt to save nature from the sand and liquor mafia, protect the poor fishermen’s livelihood and develop tourism, all rolled into one may seem incredible in God’s Own Country.

But the eco-friendly Muhamma gram panchayat in the district has done exactly the same as it is launching a new bio-park for tourists at the once-controversial Pathiramanal Island on the Vembanad lake in the district, known for its rich bio-diversity and abundant tourism potential.

According to the plan, the panchayat will, in the first stage, develop mangroves in the island, which was in the thick of controversy during the tenure of the LDF Government when the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation tried to hand over the land to the Oberoi Group on lease.

“In the first stage, the panchayat’s initiative is just to conduct studies and carry out environment-friendly work. The ownership question or other serious issues do not arise now and, therefore, there is no scope for any controversy,” local MLA Thomas Isaac said.

“It is undoubtedly the first attempt by a grama panchayat in the country to come up with such a tourism project, keeping in mind both the preservation of ecology and the interests of fishermen,” Muhamma panchayat president C K Bhaskaran said.

According to him, ‘enclave economy’, which is prevalent in Kovalam, Kumarakom and Munnar does not benefit the local people and the respective panchayat. But by this project, apart from making revenue for itself, the panchayat wants to help the local people, he said.

At first, the panchayat appointed a three-member expert panel, consisting of former director of Botanical Survey of India M B Nair, CESS senior scientist Sreekumar Chatterjee and eco-tourism research expert Mahesh Mangalassery.

Later, at a meeting convened by the panchayat in Muhamma on December 31, which was attended by the representatives of various political parties and environmentalists, the suggestions of the panel were discussed and approved.

As the first phase of the programme, Pathiramanal Protection Day will be observed in the last week of February.

According to the plan, a contour survey on the island, blessed with 83 types of rare medicinal plants, will be conducted. Separate censuses on the trees, birds and fish varieties will also be done.

During the second stage, a temporary protection wall will be put up to resist the onslaught of the sand and illicit liquor mafia. Bird sanctuary and fish sanctuary are also proposed in the second stage, Isaac said. Later, the panchayat will take steps to ban the operation of mechanised boats in the vicinity of Pathiramanal.

Another aim is to open a breeding centre for fish varieties found in the backwaters.

The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : `Alert independent travellers' to be wooed

2006-01-08T10:29:00.000Z

The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : `Alert independent travellers' to be wooed: "`Alert independent travellers' to be wooed

Staff Reporter

Kerala Tourism strategy to bring in more foreign tourists

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Tourism has decided to attract the `alert independent traveller' as part of moves to bring in more foreign tourists to the State in the coming days, E.K. Bharat Bhushan, Principal Secretary, Tourism, said here on Friday. Compared with the `sun, sand and surf traveller,' the alert independent traveller moved around for experience and had a mind of his own, he added.

Inaugurating a national seminar on 'Issues and trends in eco-tourism developing in India,' organised by All-India Tourism Teachers' Association at Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies (KITTS), Mr. Bharat Bhushan said the aim was to allow tourists to get hands-on experience of the destination and tourism products. Pointing out that the State was one of the fastest growing destinations, he said the tourism sector had been able to generate foreign exchange estimated at Rs. 1,300 crores. The State had been able to generate Rs. 6,000 crores from domestic tourists also. The tourism sector had been able to provide employment to around eight-lakh people.

He said Kerala had been a model for tourism development to other States. The success achieved in the sector over the last decade was mainly because of extremely enterprising individuals and willingness among stakeholders to innovate and come up with tourism products.

Presiding over the function, D.S. Bharadwaj, president of the association and Dean, Tourism Management, Kurukshetra University, said stakeholders of the tourism industry should lay emphasis on customer care, cost effectiveness and competitiveness to increase tourist arrivals to the country.

Director of Ecotourism K.G. Mohanlal; Director of KITTS G. Chandramohan; chairman of the local IATO chapter E.M. Najeeb; S P. Bansal of Himachal Pradesh University; and Executive Member of FHRAI Suresh M. Pillai spoke.

Nearly 100 delegates from all over the country are attending the seminar. Forty papers on various aspects related to eco-tourism in the country will be presented during the two-day event.

Silly season for branding

2006-01-05T07:03:00.000Z

Silly season: "ncredible India

Tourism is finally being recognised as a sector with a strong potential. And from the looks of its, destination branding is the next big thing. After the success of the“Kerala: God’s Own Country” campaign, other states are falling over one another to market their hotspots.

Incredible India, an effort by the Ministry of Tourism, is a step towards showcasing India and its irresistible locations to the rest of the world. Right from the majestic Taj to the colourful Gujarat to the hot and happening Goa, the campaign portrays India in its colourful best.

Chances are that many viewers will miss the commercial as it is being beamed only on niche channels."

Boom time for tourism in city - Newindpress.com

2006-01-02T11:02:00.000Z

Boom time for tourism in city - Newindpress.com: "Boom time for tourism in city
Friday December 30 2005 08:29 IST

KOZHIKODE: It’s festive season once again and it will not be surprising if you come across a foreigner in each of the streets in the city. Though, as per statistics, Kozhikode comes in the bottom of the chart as a favourite destination for tourists, the city is fast becoming a place of short-stay for travellers, both tourists and businessmen, en route to other destinations.

The District Tourism Promotion Council’s (DTPC) annual statistics for 2004 shows that 4,98,931 tourists, which include 4,702 foreigners, visited the city. In December 2004 alone around 640 foreign travellers came to Kozhikode.

In consonance with the growing profile of the city, all major hotels and resorts in the district are also experiencing a surge in customers this time compared to the last five years. Almost all hotels had opened advanced booking for the season from November and they expect this to continue till March.

“Yes, of course the tourist inflow has increased much over the years in the city. Travellers bound to Mysore and Bangalore find it a much better place of stay than those who come to explore the state as a whole. For, these people Kozhikode comes only after Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram,” Kozhikode DTPC secretary Govindaraj told Express.

Southern Kerala with its bounteous scenic beauty comes first in the list of leisure tourists, where as Malabar with its unexplored destinations often lures tourists with an inclination for spiritualism.

Meanwhile, Kadavu Resorts, one of the favourite places of stay in Kozhikode, has witnessed unprecedented rise in visits by domestic tourists. “Check-in by foreigners and businessmen are also increasing nowadays, as this is a boom time.

The package they select varies with the purpose of the visit. Tourists on leisure and families stay here most often for 3 to 4 days, where"

Life & Leisure

2006-01-02T11:01:00.000Z

Life & Leisure: "Meanwhile, foreign-giddy Indian tourists are ditching the Swiss Alps (single-handedly universalised by Bollywood) for the backwaters of Kerala. I do hope by 2010, that some bureaucrat in some state tourism board gains the gumption to try and out-market Kerala and Goa."

Land-grabbers on the rampage - Newindpress.com

2006-01-02T10:57:00.000Z

Land-grabbers on the rampage - Newindpress.com: "Land-grabbers on the rampage
Sunday January 1 2006 10:32 IST

IDUKKI: The buzz in Idukki’s Cardamom Hill Reserve region is disturbing. The filthy rich and politically and religiously powerful land sharks hold thousands of acres of land in CHR under the lease (kuthakapaattam) agreement and have added more areas through land-grabbing.

They are now getting ready to convert the lease agreements into title deeds and change the CHR from forest land to revenue land, which will make disposal of land and transit of timber easier. But the move will squeeze the last drop from this hopelessly plundered land.

The axe will fall on the remaining trees. They will become fodder for the insatiable construction industry which has grown to monstrous proportions in the State, posing a grave threat to the ecology. And on the land new tourism ventures, the means for Malayalis to make mega bucks, will come up.

Many of them are major players in the hospitality sector, including the liquor business. Remember, Kerala, the tourism supermarket, is frantically trying to offer new products as existing destinations and products have been almost exhausted."

Capt. Krishnan Nair conferred Lifetime Achievement Award for Leela Kovalam

2005-12-08T05:00:00.000Z

Capt. Krishnan Nair conferred Lifetime Achievement Award - Express TravelWorld: "Capt. Krishnan Nair conferred Lifetime Achievement Award

Capt. Krishnan Nair

Capt. Krishnan Nair, chairman of The Leela Palaces and Resorts, has been bestowed the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the tourism industry by R. L. Bhatia, the Governor of Kerala, at a ceremony held at the Kanakakunnu Palace, Thiruvananthapuram recently.

The ceremony was attended by several dignitaries including Padmashree Dr. K.J. Jesudas, E.K. Bharat Bhushan, IAS, principal secretary, tourism; T. Balakrishnan IAS, principal secretary, industries; and M.R. Narayanan, president, Chamber of Commerce. The award was instituted by the Chamber of Commerce.

The latest offering from the Leela Group, The Leela Kovalam is all set to turn Kerala's most famous tourist spot into a world-class destination. 'What we created in Mumbai, Goa and Bangalore will be repeated here,' said Capt. Nair. 'The Leela Kovalam is poised to become the focus of world tourism and environment. We are taking all steps to make it a world-class resort from the beginning.' He added that facilities like conventions, celebrity weddings, Ayurveda and well being treatments would give guests a chance to enjoy the solitude and serenity of the place. The Leela Kovalam Beach is a homecoming of sorts for Capt. Nair, who hails from the state.

Tides launched

The hotel that redefined luxury for Kerala introduced a new dining experience for the discerning travellers with the launch of its new rustic seaside restaurant, Tides. With a breathtaking view of the beach and the blue sea, Tides encompasses the best of Kovalam. From grills to stir-fries, from Keralan to Sichuan specialties, it offers a wide variety of dining choices. Guests can also relish the 'fresh catch of the day' - they actually get to see the local fisherman return with the bounty from the sea - while a DJ entertains them with live music into the n"

After backwaters and ayurveda, it’s experience tourism in Kerala

2005-12-07T08:57:00.000Z

After backwaters and ayurveda, it's experience tourism in Kerala - Newindpress.com: "After backwaters and ayurveda, it's experience tourism in Kerala
Wednesday December 7 2005 00:00 IST

KOCHI: As Kerala becomes a hot tourist spot for more travellers from Europe, backwaters and ayurveda may not be the only attractions to lure them.

The State Tourism Department is planning to promote 'experience tourism' which enable the tourists to interact with the locals and enjoy the ambience. "We have several ideas in mind like rural tourism, farm tourism, culture tourism etc. In the case of farm tourism, the tourists can stay with the farmers," says B Suman, Tourism Director.

The concept brings in additional income for the farmers. The state is targeting high-end tourists with experience tourism. Along with that the Tourism Department is going to unleash a tourism promotional campaign in the US jointly with the Taj and Oberoi groups in March. Unlike Europeans, Kerala has not become must-see place for the Americans. The tourist inflow from the US is still limited.

The tourism season in Kerala is looking quite buoyant this time. Apart from the traditional strongolds of the UK, Germany and France, Kerala is getting lot of enquiries from tourists from Russia and Italy, says Suman.

In fact, the Italians are taking a fancy to Kerala among the South Indian states, says E M John, general manager of Iterveda Tours & Services. "We are bringing around 120 tourists from Italy. We are also trying to promote the North Kerala in a big way," he says.

Another trend observed in the current season is the rise in individual tourists. Says Jose Dominic, managing director of cghearth: "A visible trend is that of alert independent traveller, who contribute to what is called responsible tourism, particularly in the matter of environment."

There is less demand for pre-scheduled and tailor-made programmes. Also the tourists seem more oriented towards culture than beaches, perhaps because at the time of the booking around six months ago, tsunami could have been at the back of their minds, he says.

The hotel bookings are better than that of last year when tsunami affected the tourist flow. Overall the tourist arrivals are expected to pick up in the current season. "Our hotels are all 100 percent booked," says T Damu, vice president (corporate affairs), South, Indian Hotels Company Ltd, owning the Taj Hotels.

Apart from the regular tourists, there is a good demand for rooms from those attending weddings and international conferences. Damu feels Kerala could benefit from encouraging new trends like adventure and culture tourism."

Monsoon is now high season for Ayurveda

2005-12-05T11:39:00.000Z

Business Standard Ltd.: "Kerala is not only ‘God’s own country’, but is now also the land of Ayurveda especially until the middle of August.

Tourism in Kerala has got a different dimension during the monsoon season which was hitherto neglected as offseason. But now business is flourishing for tourism thanks to the ayurvedic treatment. This year the season has been a boon to the tourism sector and business.

In Malayalam era Karkidakam is the month of treatment and now-a-days it has become a passion of the people in and outside Kerala. Ayurvedic resorts and hospitals sport ‘housefull’ signs for the special Panchakarma treatment which includes uzhichil, pizhichil, dhara, kizhi and special vegetarian food. The food habit is similar to that of ‘Sathwik Bhojan’ in North India.

Panchakarma treatment has different packages from three days to 21 days according to need of the customer and the cost varies from Rs 5,000-25,000 and more for the various speciality treatments.

Normally in Kerala tourist season ends by April when the monsoons begin. But for the last few years, tourists have pouring into Kerala from abroad for ayurvedic treatment. It is well known that the treatment during the month of Karkidakam is effective for many of the ailments.

In the organised sector of ayurveda treatment the turnover is around Rs 400-500 crore annually and 40 per cent of this comes during the monsoon season, say ayurvedic doctors here.

Incidentally, even health department of the state is does not have a data on the treatment centers and its functioning and there is no control over the working of these centres. Unorganised sector is bigger than the organised sector and there is no official record of their treatment facilities of this sector.

Most of the massage parlours in major cities of Kerala are being run under the cover of ayurveda treatment centres and girls are employed for attracting customers.

Panc"