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Kochi-based Marvel Tours Pvt Ltd has launched a B2B portal connecting small and medium tour operators to large hotels and connecting small and medium properties/homestays/houseboats to large tour operators.
This would be the first B2B online portal for Kerala which has signed an MoU with the State Government. Mr Sejoe Jose, Director, Marvel Tours, said that the Web site will give the hotels in Kerala the opportunity to sell the rooms to all the tour operators based in India and abroad. This can be achieved by the hotels registering with www.marveltoursonline.in .
The Web site also gives opportunity to the entrepreneurs in the State who want to start various activities for each destination in Kerala. Thus, the tour operators have a great opportunity to book different activities in each destination.
The tour operator, who registers with the company has the facility to see the different hotels and get special rates which has been contracted for them and thus improve their business, he said.
With this venture, Mr Jose said the company will given an opportunity for the all the hoteliers/house boat operators, homestay owners and those who provide various tours to sell the product not only to the traditional markets but also to two-II and III cities.
Challenges
Speaking on the occasion after the launch of the portal, Mr M. Shivsankar, Director, Kerala Tourism, said that inadequate availability of human resources and willingness to adapt technology are the two major challenges being faced by the tourism industry in Kerala. Though the industry is vibrant and growing at faster pace, he said there is a need to address these challenges for the benefit of the sector.
He pointed out that the State Government cannot directly market any player in the industry and the Government has taken steps for the effective leveraging of technology to help small operators in the sector.
Having an official Web site, e-mail address and online reservation facility might not be enough in the long-run since the travellers are technology-conscious. The role of the Government is to harness technology for the benefit of small players, he added.
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