MAJOR INITIATIVES TAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT

Tourism Vision 2025 – Draft Tourism Vision 2025 has been published and objections and suggestions have been called for from experts in various sectors, various stakeholders and people’s representatives from all over the country. The Tourism Vision 2025 is intended to serve as a guiding force which will provide a clear vision and direction for optimal use of the tourism potential of the State in a sustainable manner. The Vision document has been finalised and forwarded to Government after conducting a workshop with participants from various institutions from tourism industry, NGOs and people representatives.

Tourism Conservation, Preservation and Trade Act – The draft of this new Act has been submitted to Government and is in the active consideration of Government. This Act is meant to provide for the conservation and preservation of the tourist areas and for the approval of persons/agencies/institutions dealing with travel and tourism trade offering quality services for the sustainable tourism development in the state and for regulating courses of instruction in subjects related to hospitality studies and to take care of incidental and ancillary matters.

Preparation of guidelines to regulate Special Tourism Zones – Detailed guidelines have been prepared to regulate the developments in the identified Special Tourism Zones namely Kovalam, Kumarakom, Munnar, Fort Kochi and Kannur through State Town and Country Planning Department. These guidelines intended to be implemented through the new Tourism Conservation, Preservation and Trade Act will ensure conservation of the heritage and environment of the area and planned development. Guidelines for more centres will be developed in due course.

Classification systems for Houseboats – The number of houseboats in the backwaters of the State have proliferated and reached a figure of about 200 numbers during the last few years. There was no system to control the quality of the house boats such as quality of materials of construction, facilities including size of rooms, quality of furniture, quality of services or the safety & security measures offered by the house boat operators. This gives freedom to the operators to use this product in their own way with the only intention of maximising the profit. Considering the sustainability of this unique tourism product and the fragile backwater environment, Department of Tourism has brought out a new scheme for the classification of houseboats to grade the boats into Gold & Silver categories based on the quality of facilities and services offered by them. Green Palm Certificate has also been introduced to encourage houseboats to accept eco-friendly practices. The houseboats are being given the classifications after inspection by the committee constituted by the Government under this scheme.

Classification of Ayurveda Centres - The elevation of ‘Ayurveda’ as a USP of Kerala Tourism has brought a substantial increase in the ayurveda massage centres in and around all the major tourist destinations in the State. Most of these operate according to their terms and often flout safety and health regulations. To forestall any such misuse and maintain a uniformity of practice Government of Kerala has brought out a scheme for the Approval of Ayurveda Centres vide G.O. (MS) 140/98/GAD dated 23-03-1998. According to this order a uniform approval is given to all the centres fulfilling the conditions prescribed, irrespective of its class in quality. It is now felt that classifications of the centres are necessary to differentiate in the level of quality of facilities and services provided in the approved ayurveda centres and Department of Tourism has brought out a new scheme for the classification of Ayurveda Centres into Green Leaf and Olive Leaf categories based on the qualities in facilities and services. Ayurveda centres are being classified after inspection by the committee constituted by the Government for this purpose.

Thrust on Backwater Development – Department of Tourism is continuing the thrust given on backwater based tourism activities. Many schemes are being implemented to use the tourism potential of backwaters. Few of the important projects are listed below.

- Master Plan for the Integrated Development of Backwaters of Kerala

- Inter linking of canals and backwaters of the state from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasargod

- Construction of boat terminals at Alappuzha, Kumarakom, Thanneermukkom and Chettuva

- Backwater Tourism Complexes at Thanneermukkom, Pallathuruthy, Kotharathode, Nedumudi and Vattakkayal

- Dispersal of Houseboat activities to Malabar region namely Chettuva, Kozhikode, Parassinikkadavu, Valiyaparambu etc

- Nehru Centenary Pavilion at Punnamada, Alappuzha

- Tourist Complex at Thanneermukkom

Launching of Statewide Tourism Awareness Campaign – Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri. A.K. Antony has inaugurated the Statewide Tourism awareness campaigns on September 20th 2001. This scheme is intended to impart awareness to the public, persons directly dealing with the tourists etc on the impact of tourism on economic, social and physical development of the local population and on the need to welcome the tourists in a cordial manner. Department of Tourism is arranging many programmes as part of the awareness campaign like training of taxi drivers, tourist polices etc, conducting workshops, seminars and giving advertisements.

Launching of Samskriti, a multidimensional project to ensure a cleaner, healthier and hygienic environment, with special emphasis on tourism has been launched on 1st November 2001. This programme is being implemented with IHMCT as the nodal agency.

Focus on Conservation of Heritage – A major heritage conservation project is being implemented at Fort Kochi for the conservation and preservation of Fort Kochi Heritage Zone. This project has been partially commissioned and the balance works are in good progress. This project has won the international PATA Grant Award for the Best Heritage project. Other heritage projects being taken up by Department of Tourism includes restoration of Hill Palace, Napier Museum, Vallakkadavu, Fort Area, Mattancherry, second phase of Fort Kochi developments and development of Chennamangalam heritage village.

New Package with Indian Airlines - MOU has been signed with Kerala Tourism and Indian Airlines to promote new tourism packages to the state.

Rail Tourism package - A new venture to start a rail package for tourists visiting Kerala by allotting an A/c coach in Mumbai – Thiruvananthapuram Sector has been started.

Construction of Pay & Use Toilets – Department of Tourism is constructing Pay & Use Toilets in 8 major KSRTC bus stands namely Thiruvananthapuram, Kottarakkara, Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Guruvayoor and Kannur. Actions are also being taken through DTPCs and local bodies to construct toilet blocks at all major city/tourists centres.

Strengthening DTPCs – All DTPCs have been reconstituted. They are also being professionalised to take up new responsibilities. Shri. C.V. Anandabose, IAS, Special Officer appointed by Government to look into the functioning of DTPCs is working on the reforms packages.

Large-scale investments in basic infrastructure development – Department of Tourism has taken up three major infrastructure projects under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund of NABARD. As per Government Order (MS) No. 959/2001/Fin. dated 07-08-2001 sanction have been obtained to borrow an additional amount of Rs.50.00 crores for implementing the following infrastructure projects of Tourism.

i) Development of Waterlink from Kochi to Nedumbassery : Rs.15.00 crores

ii) Development of Road link between Nenmara and : Rs.25.00 crores

Nelliyampathy

iii) Development of Road link between Chalakkudy and : Rs.10.00 crores

Vazhachal
Total : Rs.50.00 crores
Detailed project reports have been submitted to NABARD for the above projects. Following projects have also been submitted to NABARD for taking up under RIDF during this year at a total cost of Rs.325.00 crores

Integrated development of Vagamon - Rs.90.00 crores

Kovalam beach renewal project - Rs.50.00 crores

Development of Thiruvananthapuram –Ponmudi - Rs.50.00 crores

Development of Kumbalangi island, Ernakulam - Rs. 25.00 crores

Development of roads in Wayanad - Rs.25.00 crores

Development of roads at Bekal - Rs.25.00 crores

Development of Vadakkanchery-Nenmara - Rs.30.00 crores

Kollenkode-Parambikulam road

Bypass road to Sabarimala - Rs.10.00 crores

Priority to tourism projects in Malabar – Department of Tourism is trying to give priority to the projects in Malabar to tap the vast tourism potential of this virgin area. The following are some of the initiatives in Malabar

- Beautification of Malampuzha Dam
- Development of Kanhirampuzha Dam
- Development of Kozhikode beach
- Development of Houseboat activities including boat terminal at Chettuva
- Development of Backwater based activities at Parassinikkadavu, Nileswaram and Valiyaparamba

§ Stress on public – private partnership in promotion – All promotional activities are being undertaken with continuous interaction with all stakeholders in tourism. Trade meets are regularly being organised to discuss the issues and to find out the best solution. Department of Tourism participate in all national and international trade meets along with private sector. The following are the major tourism fairs/trade meets participated by Kerala Tourism. National Tourism fairs at Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkatta, New Delhi, Destinations-2001- Kolkatta, Aaryogya-2001 – New Delhi, SATTE New Delhi, Global Travel Mart Kochi, international travel fairs ATM 2001 – Dubai, ITB Berlin, PATA Singapore, WTM London, PATA New Delhi etc.

§ Focus on promotion of domestic tourism – Department of Tourism is focusing now in promoting more domestic tourists to the State. Road shows have been organised at Hyderabad, Calcutta and Pune along with private sector. Road shows are also planned at Ahmedabad, Surat, Madras, Bangalore, Pune, Calcutta, Hyderabad etc

§ Kerala Travel Mart 2002 – Department of Tourism is holding an international travel mart at Kochi in October 2002.

§ Using of Television and Internet media for marketing – Department of Tourism is successfully using the latest developments in information technology to use Internet marketing for the promotion. Television media is also being used to attract more tourists to the State.

§ Single Window System to clear Tourism projects – Government of Kerala has constituted a State level committee headed by the Chief Secretary vide G.O.(MS) No.334/2001/GAD dated 26-09-2001, for aiding tourism projects and to issue necessary clearances within a time frame of 60 days for major tourism projects coming up in the State.

§ South Indian Tourism Ministers’ Conference – Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala organised South Indian Tourism Minister’s Conference on 2nd and 3rd January 2002 at Convention Hall, Ashoka Hotel (ITDC), Kovalam. Tourism Ministers, Secretaries and Directors of Tourism and Managing Directors of State Tourism Corporation of all the South Indian States participated in the conference. The Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka also participated as special invitee. The conference discussed various issues of inter-State concerns and issues to be taken up with Government of India for the promotion of tourism in the Southern part of the Country. The issues discussed include development of inter-State Circuit/SAARC Circuits, inter-State transport taxes and taxes in hotel sector, introduction of South Indian rail circuits, setting up of South Indian Tourism Infrastructure Fund (SITI-FUND), inter-State border roads, joint product development, joint human resource development programme, joint promotion and marketing, joint cruise circuits etc.

§ State Tourism Award 2000-2001 – Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala has distributed the State Tourism Awards for the year 2000-2001 on 2nd January 2002.

§ Prime Minister’s Kumarakom Package – Shri. A.B Vajpayee, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India during his visit to Kumarakom during December 2000 has announced two packages for the promotion of tourism in the State. The present status of these packages are as follows.

i) Improving Connectivity to Kerala: Hon’ble Prime Minister has offered more airline connectivity to Kerala. Accordingly all the three requests received by Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala were submitted to Government of India and accordingly Government of India has sanctioned landing rights to these Airlines. These include Silk Air started operating from 28th October 2001 to Kochi, Oman Air started operating from September 2001 to Kochi and Kuwait Air which will start flying to Kochi from 7th January 2002. No other requests are pending with Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala.

ii) Backwater Development: Prime Minister has announced special assistance for development of backwaters of the state. Accordingly Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala has submitted two proposals, one for Preparation of Master Plan for Integrated Development Backwaters of Kerala and the other for Backwater Infrastructure Development. Accordingly Government of India has sanctioned Rs.1.00 crore for the preparation of master plan for backwater for which action is being done for the selection of consultant. The Rs.154.68 crores project for the development of backwaters of the State submitted to Government of India is being examined by them.

§ Utilising Central Assistance for infrastructure and promotional projects – Government of India has sanctioned projects worth of Rs. 15.00 crores during the year for infrastructure development and promotion.

§ Variety of new projects initiated – Department of Tourism has sanctioned variety of projects related tourism through out the state during the last months. Following are the major ones among this.

- Development of Sooryakanthi Utsavanagari, Thiruvananthapuram

- Fort Kochi Heritage Zone project

- Construction of Houseboats

- Construction of Pay & Use Toilet blocks at Ernakulam, Guruvayoor, Kollam, Kottarakkara, Kottayam, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur

- Landscaping and gardening of multipurpose cultural complex in Thiruvananthapuram

- Procurement of battery operated boats for Periyar lake, Periyar

- Purchase of double hull boat for boating in Shenduruney wildlife sanctuary reservoir

- Aqua Park at Alumkadavu

- Boating facilities at Kappil

- Construction of Pay & Use toilets, Alappuzha

- Development of Beach Tourism at Alappuzha

- Development of Poomalachal, Alappuzha

- Development of Poovakkattuchira, Changanassery

- Development of Ramakalmedu into a Tourist Destination

- Development of Thusharagiri Water fall, Kozhikode

- Development of Pookot Lake Tourist Resort

- Kalpathy Radholsavam – Construction of Auditorium

- Purakattiri Aquatic Recreation Centre, Kozhikode

- Restoration of heritage buildings Chennamangalam Synagogue, Pallippuram Kotta, Kottappuram Kotta and landscaping of Cheramanparambu

- Construction of jetty at Albuquerque basin, Fort Kochi

- Construction of boat jetty at Ernakulam Warf

- Study on Scientific Disposal of sewage from Houseboats

- Construction of Musical fountain at Akkulam

- Adventure tourism at Kovalam and Poovar

- Improvement of Waterway from Akkulam to Veli

- Improvement of road to Edakkal cave side – protection works

- Pay & Use Toilet and Cloak room at Kovalam

- Construction of Public Pay & Use toilet in important tourist centres in Kottayam

- Kovalam Tourist Destination – A detailed Study

- Integrated development of Tourism, widening of road from Kovalam to ITDC Junction

- Proposal for the renovation of road towards the Nehru Trophy Boat race centre at Punnamada

- Construction of Information Centre, restaurant, pavilion cum comfort station at Kothamangalam

- Development works at Veli and landscaping & connected works at Pozhikkara

- Construction of Pay & Use toilets at Malayalappuzha and Adoor

- Providing street lights with sodium vapour lamp fittings along the road from Kovalam Jn. to Ashoka Beach Resort

- Construction of over bridge in Children’s park – DTPC Ernakulam

- Musical fountain in Children’s park – DTPC Ernakulam

- Renovation of Darbar Hall Ground – DTPC Ernakulam

- Maintenance of web site, multimedia and vide production

- Consultancy for providing PR Solution to promote Kerala in the domestic and international tourism markets

- Exhibition of paintings of M.F. Hussain and Yousuf Arakkal

- Production of Heritage guide to Kerala

- Production of promotional film on Ayurveda

- Shoot for the promotional campaign for Kerala Tourism

- Proposal for translation of CD-ROMs in Japanese Language

- Release of TV commercials

- Release of web advertisements

- Toll free phone number for enquiry handling

§ Focus on Eco-Tourism Practices: Department of Tourism is giving focus on implementation of practical guidelines for eco-tourism practices. A workshop was organised on 19-04-2002 in this regard.

§ German Assistance: The following projects are proposed for the financial and technical assistance from Federal Republic of Germany under the bilateral development cooperation agreement

1. Tourism Market Development - US $ 5,000,000

2. Development of Backwaters of Kerala - US $ 40,000,000

3. Development of Munnar-Kodaikanal Road - US $16,000,000

4. Solid and Liquid Waste Management Systems

in major tourist centres in Kerala - US $ 20,000,000

5. Human resource development in tourism - US $ 5,800,000