The Hindu Business Line : Centre to set up tourism institutes in Kerala

The Centre has initiated steps for setting up two tourism-related institutes in Kerala as part of encouraging the tourism sector in the State, the Union Tourism Minister, Ms Ambika Soni, has said.

The Government is considering setting up of Institute of Hospitality Management and a Food Craft Institute in the State. The hospitality institute would be set up in Kozhikode, whereas the food craft institute would be set up considering the availability of land.

Favoured destination

According to the Minister, the ongoing tourism projects in the state would be reviewed and a time-bound programme would be chalked out for its completion before March 2007. The Centre would extent financial assistance to promote rural tourism in the country, she added.

Kerala has become the most-favoured destination for worldwide tourists and the Centre would provide all efforts for the promotion of backwater tourism in the State in view of its potential. Kerala, she said, is a model to other states as well as to the world in the tourism sector. To spread the message, an international seminar on tourism would be held in the State.

MULTIPLE VISAS

Earlier, inaugurating the Kerala Travel Mart on Wednesday evening, the Minister said that arrangements would be made to issue multiple visas to tourists as part of initiating adequate steps to boost tourism. The Government, the Minister said, would ensure that the tourists would have to wait for only 36-48 hours for visa.

The help of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be made available to co-ordinate the process. Medical visas would be issued for one year for patients as well as the person who accompanies the patient. The period could be extended up to three years.

The Government is also working out a scheme to provide tax incentives for those constructing budget hotels as the tourists are facing shortage of rooms.

The State Chief Minister, Mr V.S. Achuthanandan, said that the Government did not see tourism merely as a market commodity. The State wanted tourism to be developed further without harming the social and cultural values.

Speaking on the occasion, the Tourism Minister, Mr Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, said that the tourism sector in the State is expecting a growth of 26 per cent in the next 10 years. The department is envisaging an investment of Rs 1,000 crore of investment this year.

50% GROWTH

KTM 2006, the fourth edition of the Kerala Travel Mart, has recorded a 50 per cent growth this year compared to the one in 2004.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Mr Jose Dominic, the President of the Kerala Travel Mart Society (KTMS) said that the buyers have registered for the KTM this year from the countries of Argentina, China, Korea, Brazil, Iran etc. There are about 270 stalls and 50 houseboats in the venue.

KTMS this year is also showcasing farmstays, monsoon tours, medical tourism, wedding and honeymoon holidays as new products in this year's Travel Mart, he said.

It is the only tourism event in the sub-continent that brings together the business fraternity and entrepreneurs behind the tourism products and services of Kerala.

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