Tag Archives: Kerala Tourism

The newly elected Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala has brought back Dr. V. Venu, IAS, as the new Tourism Secretary. A Kerala cadre IAS, Dr. Venu was Tourism Secretary in the State during the last Left government between 2006 and 2011. The election manifesto of the Left Front has unequivocally stated its target to double tourist numbers in the next five years. Known for his progressive ideas, Dr Venu was behind the Kerala Tourism’s popular Rural and Responsible Tourism initiatives, which received global acclaim in recent times.

Mega luxury cruise vessel ‘M.V.Ovation of the Seas’ called at the Cochin Port for a 2-day stop-over in its circuit of Dubai-Muscat-Kochi-Penang-Singapore. The vessel with 4000 passengers and 1649 crew was given a warm and colourful reception at the Cochin Port. ‘M.V.Ovation of the Seas’ is a brand new ship of the Royal Caribbean Lines which was floated out in April this year. It is 348 m long and is in the 2nd largest class of cruise vessel. 90 passengers from Dubai/ Muscat disembarked at Cochin Port and 80 passengers will embark from the Port. A brief plaque exchange ceremony was held to commemorate the inaugural call. G.Senthilvel, Chairman, Cochin Port, Dr. C. Unnikrishnan Nair, Traffic Manager, Cochin Port, Sethuraman, IPS, FRRO (Bureau of Immigration), M.M.Haseeja, Ministry of Shipping, Mohamed Farouk, Asst. Director General, Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, Thomas Korah, Joint Director, Kerala Tourism Department and other officials participated. Senior officials from Kerala Tourism and India Tourism were present to help the tourists for the local visits. Officials from the Ministry of Shipping and Ministry of Tourism, Government of India had specially come from New Delhi to welcome the cruise vessel as part of the Government of India’s measures to promote Cruise Tourism.

Kerala Tourism’s Muziris Heritage Project, a conservation undertaking based on archaeological findings on the ancient Spice Route linking India’s maritime contacts with contemporary ancient civilisations, has been inaugurated by President of India Pranab Mukherjee in Kodungallur (Thrissur). Realising the cultural significance of this ancient maritime trade route, Kerala Tourism has launched the ‘Spice Route’ tourism initiative linking 41 countries in Asia and Europe with India, particularly Kerala. The President also released a coffee table book on the Spice Route, which in first-ever by a tourism board, is also available on Kindle. Addressing the gathering at the launch, Mukherjee said that the project should spread the message of Indian cosmopolitanism far and wide adding to the country’s soft power across the world. “Kerala has through the ages demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt to new traditions and values in every sphere of human thought and endeavour. Participation of people in planning and implementation of the project will further ensure full utilisation of the economic and employment prospects that growth in tourism will bring to the region,” he said. Kerala Minister for Tourism A.P. Anilkumar said the Muziris project would open doors to the immense opportunities in educational tourism, which is a growing industry across the world. The project is an effort to conserve and showcase a culture that had existed for over 3,000 years, when Kerala had established itself as a major centre of spice trade with the ancient port of Muziris as its hub. The port was the centre of trade between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean regions. Also present on this occassion were Governor of Kerala Justice P. Sathasivam and Chief Minister of Kerala Oommen Chandy.