Kerala kicks off international tourism road show

October 1st, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Admitting that there had been lapses, the Kerala government Thursday said the Thekkady boat tragedy was "an accident" and would not hit tourist inflow to the state that is promoted abroad as 'God's own country'. "It is a waterway accident like a road accident.

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 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - A series of 'Incredible India' roadshows was held for the first time in the Scandinavian countries - Finland, Sweden and Norway - to promote India as a preferred holiday destination, the tourism ministry said Tuesday. An outdoor advertising campaign - through hoardings and banners at airports and main streets of Helsinki, Stockholm and Oslo and Incredible India branding on buses, bus shelters, trams and taxis - was jointly organised by the tourism ministry and the Indian and Scandinavian chapters of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), a non-profit travel trade association.

August 3rd, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala Tourism has been awarded the 2009 Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Award in the marketing destination category and has been selected as "best in class" from amongst 236 entries worldwide. The award ceremony will take place Sep 25 during the PATA Travel Mart 2009 in Hangzhou, China, according to a Kerala Tourism release issued here Monday.

July 10th, 2009 PANAJI - Known more for its beaches, Goa now wants to cash in on the tourism potential of backwater tourism on the lines of Kerala. The state tourism authorities will develop infrastructure along the coconut palm-lined Mandovi and Zuari rivers, which flow into the Arabian sea, to ensure that beaches are not the state's only big draw.

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 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India Friday said the adventure tourism roadshows in Australia, where a number of Indian students have been attacked, and New Zealand are on though they will be held in September instead of July. The announcement came two days after Tourism Minister Kumari Selja had announced postponing the roadshows in Australia on the grounds that the situation there was not normal - referring to a series of allegedly racist attacks on Indian students there.

June 8th, 2009 SHIMLA - Himachal Pradesh, one of India's more popular tourist destinations, will now promote ancient systems of nature cure on the pattern of Kerala to lure health-conscious affluent visitors, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has said. "Our main focus will now be to tap high-end health tourists.

May 12th, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala Tourism has tied up with private carrier Jet Airways to offer 'Jet2Kerala', a special scheme that offers low-cost air tickets to domestic tourists flying to the state. The Jet2Kerala scheme, which was launched in Mumbai Tuesday, will offer travellers tickets - from premium to business classes - and accommodation - in luxury properties as well as budget hotels - at discounted rates, a government statement released here said.

April 7th, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Mahindra Holidays and Resorts India, part of the Mahindra Group, is planning major expansion in Kerala, including developing a brand new resort in Wayanad district and increasing the number of its home stays to 150 by the year-end, a top official said. Declining to reveal the investment details of the resort project in Wayanad in northern Kerala, Mahindra Holidays managing director Ramesh Ramnathan told IANS on phone from Chennai that the project was still on the drawing board.

March 26th, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala is targeting Russian and Swedish tourists to beat the downturn feared this year, the government said Thursday. According to a press release issued here by the state tourism department, the state's tourism department participated at the Moscow International Travel and Tourism (MITT) exhibition from March 18-21 - and showcased Kerala's beaches, backwaters and houseboats - key attractions for tourists.

February 22nd, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala's lush green fields, idyllic backwaters and lagoons are being promoted for honeymoon tourism and glimpses of it can be seen in Star Plus' daily soap 'Bidaai'. Kerala Tourism has entered into a marketing arrangement with Star Plus TV and acted as the facilitator for shooting six episodes of the soap in the coastal state, an official said.

December 31st, 2008 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - All four and five-star hotels in Kerala have been asked to prepare a detailed layout plan and undergo a security audit, a state minister said Thursday. 'This has been undertaken in the aftermath of the recent Mumbai terror attacks.

December 23rd, 2008 KOCHI - The two-day diaspora meet 'Ente Naadu', billed as a platform for the Kerala diaspora to invest in tourism projects in the state, concluded here Wednesday with an investment of over Rs.10 billion expected to take place in the coming years, a minister said. Over 500 non-resident Keralites (NRKs) from 42 countries took part in the two-day event.

December 22nd, 2008 KOCHI - The two day 'Ente Naadu', billed as a platform for the Kerala diaspora to invest in tourism projects in the state, has attracted a good response with more than 500 delegates from 42 countries attending the meet. The key objective of the two day meet is to open up exciting prospects for non resident Keralites (NRKs) through the 'Bring Home a Friend programme', which will make them brand ambassadors of Kerala.