British tour operators in Kerala on familiarisation trip

October 11th, 2009 LUCKNOW - The first ever Kolkata to Varanasi cruise on the Ganga river ran into rough weather, when a snag in the vessel compelled the tour operator to conclude the trip at Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh, 60 km short of the destination. The 40 foreign tourist, who set out on the maiden trip from Kolkata Sep 29 for the much hyped 12-day cruise, were eventually driven by taxis Saturday from Ghazipur to Varanasi, where they were awaiting the arrival of the vessel, now being repaired.

September 25th, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala, which for the first time is participating at the International French Tourism Mart (IFTM) Top Resa in Paris that concludes Friday, has received 47 industry-related queries, the government said. "They include Fram, Escape Mandarin and La Route de Indes," said Kerala Tourism in statement issued here Friday, referring to three French tour operators interested in tapping the state's tourism sector.

September 3rd, 2009 KOCHI - Foreign tourists in Kerala took part in the ten-day long harvest festival 'Onam'. The Homestay Operators Association organised Onam celebrations for the foreign tourists staying in the association's homes.

August 17th, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan's cabinet was expanded on Monday with the induction of three more ministers. State Governor R.S.

July 30th, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala will host a seminar on Indo-British business partnership here Aug 6 to explore fresh business opportunities in the European country. According to a statement issued by the British Deputy High Commission, Chennai, a 10-member team representing the UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) will hold talks on discuss business opportunities with top officials of Kerala-based companies at the seminar.

July 4th, 2009 NEW DELHI J - The National Executive meeting of the Janata Dal (Secular) has decided to remain with the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala. Speaking to the media here to day after the meeting of party's national executive committee, former Prime Minister and JDS chief H.

June 30th, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan Tuesday informed the state assembly that there was a 14.84 percent growth in tourism revenue and a 14.41 percent rise in tourist arrivals in 2008 as compared to 2007. In reply to a question, Balakrishnan said that the number of domestic tourists visiting the state was 6.27 million in 2006, went up to 6.64 million in 2007 and touched 7.59 million in 2008.

June 26th, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala will ask the central government to set up more public sector units and centre-state joint ventures in the state to spur its industrial development, Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem said Friday. Kareem told IANS here that he would go to Delhi next week to discuss the state's demands with Defence Minister A.K.

June 17th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan government Wednesday abolished the Haj quota of all parliamentarians, including president and prime minister, in order to "provide equal chance" to every aspirant. Announcing a new Haj policy for 2009, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira said the government and private tour operators will equally share the Hajj quota this year.

April 11th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is scheduled to visit Kerala on a daylong election campaign today.

April 8th, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Sonia Gandhi's whirlwind election campaign tour to Kerala, where she touched down at four places Wednesday, lashing out at the Left government in the state, drew huge crowds. Gandhi arrived in Kozhikode Tuesday night and her first stop Wednesday morning was at Vadakara in north Kerala.

February 11th, 2009 PALAKKAD - The Kerala cabinet has approved the adoption of a new policy to ensure gender equality and prevent crime against women, Pinarayi Vijayan, state secretary of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) said here Thursday. Vijayan, who is on a tour of the state, told reporters that the main objective of floating the new policy was to ensure social justice for women.

February 3rd, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Kerala government Wednesday gave its nod to set up a 2,400 MW thermal power plant in the state facing shortages of electricity supply. Chief Minister V.S.

January 15th, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Travel agents in Kerala have begun announcing packages to attract travellers to participate in the month-long Dubai Shopping Festival that began Thursday. The festival is considered the biggest shopping and entertainment event in the Middle East.

December 27th, 2008 NEW DELHI - Terrorism has hit India's tourism industry hard, but now some of the best travel writers from the US and Europe have been roped in by the government to help undo the damage. These travel writers will be visiting India from January onwards and will be taken, besides exotic destinations, to cities that have been hit by terrorism in the past year to write about how safe it is to visit the country.