BACKGROUND
........The present Department
of Tourism had its beginning in the State Guest Department
of the erstwhile Travancore State and Hospitality Organisation
of the Cochin State. At that time the functioning of the
Department was confined to looking after the comforts of
the Guests of Rulers and those of the Government. A few
palaces and State Guest Houses were used for accommodating
the Guests and a small fleet of cars and boats maintained
for their transport needs. In Travancore, the State Guest
Department had been functioning since 1930. Till the re-organisation
of States in 1948, the State Guest Department of Travancore
State and Hospitality Department of Cochin State continued
as such. Later, after the formation of Kerala State in 1956,
these two separate organisations were combined as "Tourist
Department" in 1958.
........This Department continues
to be the Government agency responsible for looking after
the comforts of Guests of the Government. It also functions
as the Estate Office so far as accommodation of VIPs like
Ministers are concerned. Their conveyance needs are also
managed by the Tourist Department. Although the Department
continues to handle the hospitality function of the State,
more emphasis is now given to Promotion, Planning and Development
of Tourism. In 1981 it was again re-named as Department
of Tourism.
