The Hindu Business Line : Branson bowled over by Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram March 2 Choosing to holiday in Kerala was not a very difficult decision for Sir Richard Branson as he had heard much about the State.

“We asked people which, in their opinion, is the best place in India to visit, and most people seemed to say ‘Kerala’,” he told Business Line.

Sir Richard, the charismatic founder and Chairman of the UK-based Virgin Group, is also famous for his record-breaking attempts at sea and with hot-air balloons.

In the mid-1980s, for instance, his Virgin Atlantic Flyer became the first hot-air balloon to cross the Atlantic Ocean.

On a four-day holiday in Kerala, Sir Richard and his family spent time at a resort in Kovalam near Thiruvananthapuram.

They also went on a houseboat cruise of the Ashtamudi backwaters near Kollam. “We had a wonderful trip on the boat,” he declared.

Kerala, he said, is a very beautiful place with “incredibly warm people”. “We’ve been treated like royalty,” he added.

However, Kerala, like the UK, seems to have a problem with rubbish lying around on the streets, he said.

This is a pity because Kerala is such a beautiful place; “99.999 per cent is exquisitely lovely,” he said.

In Germany, he said, there is a system whereby each house and office and shop is responsible for the land outside it and keeping this area clean.

The system has worked well for Germany and is perhaps something worth considering for Kerala, he added.

With the Virgin group expanding its presence in India, including the launch of a new business venture today, Kerala may see more of Sir Richard. “I certainly would love to spend more time and explore Kerala,” he said.

More Stories on : Tourism | People | Kerala

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page