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Nov 3 - 9, 2006 / No.1500
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Kerala Travel Mart Report |
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Nature, culture take centrestage |
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KERALA Travel Mart (KTM) 2006, which was held in October, had tour operators selling farm, adventure, homestay,
| A farmhouse in Kerala: organic farm tours on offer.
Picture by Madhura Katti
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pilgrimage and wellness tours in a sign of the growing market in “environmentally and culturally aware tourism”.
KTM Society chairman and president, Mr Jose Dominic, said the destination was seeing a new breed of independent traveller who wanted “to enjoy his holiday by travelling responsibly without disturbing the culture and environment”.
Blue Yonder Associates, a group of hospitality service providers in the tourism industry who work together to promote and practice responsible tourism, was launched at the show. It has 42 registered members so far, who pay an annual fee of US$110.
Blue Yonder CEO, Mr Gopinath Parayil, said: “We direct the interested client to relevant members’ properties. We charge a modest fee of five per cent for any business generated through our website. I will also be at WTM (World Travel Market) on behalf of the association.”
Every hotel that joins the scheme has to declare its responsible tourism policies on its website and in promotional material. A guest staying at the member property has the right to question the property on its policies. If the feedback is negative, property owners will have to take corrective action. If there is repeated negative feedback about a property, it will
be removed.
Mr Parayil said: “A growing number of travellers around the world prefer to travel responsibly. We saw this as an opportunity to make Kerala a better place to live and visit.”
In southern Kerala, Varkala near Thiruvanathapuram is the home of several anganwadis (childcare centres for underprivileged children). Kerala Travels Interserve has launched Lullaby@Varkala tours, where a day’s tour at US$22 includes a visit to the centres.
Kerala Travels managing director, Mr K C Chandrahasan, said: “As part of the tourism industry, we believe we all have a crucial role in addressing the growing void between the rich and the poor by initiating proactive and corrective steps.”
Prochild, a non-government organisation, is a partner with Kerala Travels in the project that has helped 141 anganwadis with 3,200 children.
Farm tourism made its first appearance at KTM this year too. Timeless Traveller chief executive, Mr Naveen Aditya, said: “Farm tours are the best way to understand Kerala life and culture. Our five selected farms are in Wayanad, Palakkad, Kuttanad and two spice plantations in south-western Kottayam. All the farms are organic and the guests are also served organic food.”
The attraction in Kuttanad is to witness farming of reclaimed land at two metres below sea level. Tourists can take part in activities such as harvesting, weeding and even tread on the grains with folk songs sung to help them keep rhythm. Canoeing on the backwaters, visiting a local temple or a church and celebrating local festivals are unique activities here.
Mr Aditya said: “Farm tourism brings in extra income to the farmer whose revenue is limited and also helps them continue traditions and culture that the visitors enjoy.”
Natural forest covers some 30 per cent of Kerala, which attracts adventure tourists to the state.
Wild Kerala Tour Company chief executive, Mr Pramod K G, said: “Adventure tourism is picking up. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is a popular tour. Clients spend an average of two to four nights there.” Most wildlife enthusiasts are from Switzerland, Germany and other European countries.
He added: “We also had visitors from China. A couple from Singapore is joining our tour on December 6. Our clients want to understand the eco-balance between the region and people living there. We plan to start cultural tours highlighting the anthropology of indigenous people by next year.”
Kerala Tourism director, Mr B Suman, said: “Home stays give the flavour of Kerala experience. We would like to address this segment by compiling a directory of homestays.”
But the tour operators in the destination are not averse to mainstream tourism activities either.
Great India Tour Company chairman and Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences executive director, Mr E M Najeeb, told TTG Asia: “We have added an exclusive wing with 25 suites at Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences for international medical tourists.” The wing opened in the first week of October.
The tour company is also introducing golfing. Mr Najeeb said: “We are opening a nine-hole golf course at Thiruvanathapuram.”
Asia is a developing market for Kerala. Hi Tours business development director, Ms Raji Menon, said: “We are designing a 12-day special package of Kerala’s popular attractions along with backwater cruise and houseboat stay for Korean and Japanese tourists. Most of them come for the first time to Kerala after Rajasthan and Agra. We also tailor-make packages for those interested in rejuvenation and beauty therapy through ayurveda. And we include the Kathakali dance of Kerala, which is similar to kabuki of Japan, and they like to watch it.”
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