Kochi goes global as International Container Transshipment Terminal is inaugurated
Published February 11, 2011 | 
Kochi has been placed in the elite league of maritime trading nations with the opening of the Vallarpadam International Container Transshipment Terminal, which was dedicated to the nation today. OEL Dubai became the first cargo vessel to enter the Vallarpadam International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) to ink a new chapter in the global maritime trade.The total cost of the first and second phase of the terminal is expected to be around Rs 6,250 crore.
Kochiites are truly delighted at the completion of the first phase of the International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT), after a long wait. It will bring in lot of employment opportunities to this city and will mark an increase in the exports and imports from the Port. Touted as one of the most modern ports, Kochi will be a preferred choice for traders all over the world for its quick cargo handling facilities. The commissioning of the transshipment terminal will also bring in an impetus for many industries such as tea, rubber and cash crops of Kerala About 1,100 container lorries are expected to pass through Kochi for ferrying cargo and it will result in a flurry of activities in all sectors of economy .
Kochi will emerge as one of the most favoured destinations in the world with this feat. The hospitality industry across the state will be hugely benefited as the demand for hotels and boarding facility will increase manifold with a large number of people from all over the world frequenting the city. The logistic sector also is expected to make an exponential growth and will throw open more employment opportunities as cargo handling will require huge manpower. The project, which will be operated by Dubai Port World (DPW),would make Kochi a key player in the maritime industry and would reduce India’s dependence on foreign ports for its trans-shipment requirements.
To catch up with the immense opportunities that ICTT would bring to this city, Kochi will have to work against the clock to ensure good roads and supporting infrastructure to ensure the benefits that this terminal will bestow. Kochi indeed has done us all proud by going global!
Kerala becomes the first Indian destination to win the prestigious award at FITUR
Published January 25, 2011 | 
Kerala Tourism has won the award for the Best International Stand at FITUR, which was held in Madrid, Spain,one of the emerging markets for Kerala Tourism. Held from January 19-23, 2011, this fair attracted many countries from around the world.
Kerala tourism sources said that this is the first time an Indian destination has won this prestigious Award at FITUR, which is one of he largest tourism exhibitions in the world. A commendable achievement by any benchmark, this award will enhance the tourism prospects of God’s own country tremendously.The winner for this Award is selected on the popularity and uniqueness of the design apart from the materials used in making the stand. Colombia and Portugal were the other winners of this Award.
The backwaters of Kerala formed the theme of the award winning stand of Kerala that measured 58.5 sq. m. Designed by Stark Communications Pvt. Ltd. Thiruvananthapuram, this entry from Kerala received much attention in the fair. Chinese fishing nets, country boats and hurricane lamps brought out the bucolic charm of Kerala in this stand, which was made fully with eco-friendly materials. The other participants in the Kerala team included CGH Earth, Pioneer Personalized Holidays, Isola Di Cocco and Travancore Heritage.
Hats off to the envious performance of Kerala in the international platform, whcih has brought laurel from far and wide!
New Year brings cheer to Kerala tourism industry
Published January 3, 2011 | 
An Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) survey has revealed that almost 35 per cent of domestic travellers preferred coastal destinations like Goa, Puducherry,Kerala and Rameshwaram for their holidays. Hotels in Kerala has been recording a massive business during Christmas and New Year with many hotels fully booked months before. The harsh winter in Europe has also proved beneficial for Kerala as many foreigners have decided to spend their holidays in the warm and sunny state of Kerala instead of remaining cooped up in their homes due to the prevailing snow and frost conditions there .
Leh and Kerala have become the best performers in the domestic travel market, replacing the traditional tourist destinations of Goa and Rajasthan. With the Taj property in Bekal finally taking off, Kerala is all set to make it big in the ensuing tourist season. From monsoon tourism to adventure sporting options like white water rafting and hot air ballooning, Kerala is expanding its vistas in tourism and has positioned itself on a strong turf. Going by the trends, 2011 will be a highly successful year for Kerala, fondly called as the land of the Gods, spices and backwaters!
Kerala is no longer the land of coconuts
Published December 13, 2010 | 
The name Kerala, literally translates into the land of coconuts in Malayalam. However, going by the present turn of events, it seems that his name has become a misnomer for our State thanks to the dwindling coconut plantations. The emerald green hue of the paddy fields and the swaying coconut palms dotting the fringes of the backwaters have all become part of the past . The death knell to these exceptional crops of Kerala came in the form of escalating costs of cultivation and the shortage of farm hands, which prompted the farmers to turn to less labour intensive crops like banana and rubber.
Coconut trees are considered Kalpa vriksha ( which literally means a divine tree where every part of it is useful) in Kerala. In the past Palm fronds were used to thatch the roofs of houses, coconut husks and shells kept the hearths burning while its trunk was used in the construction of furniture and homes. With urbanization and the change in life styles, Malayalees have conveniently forgotten the virtues of this tree. The city home dwellers too are chopping down the coconut trees in their small patch of land as they find it hard to get coconut pluckers in time. The criss crossing power lines, the luxury car parked outside and the kids pool of the neighbouring apartment could all be reasons of worry if coconuts are not harvested in time! At the end of it all, is it that the coconut tree has outlived its utility for Keralites? If yes, it is a shame for us.
Today, Kerala markets are deluged with coconuts from the neighbouring state of Tamilnadu, which is sold at exorbitant prices. So, the day is not far away when Kerala will cease to be the fabled land of coconuts. By offering subsidies and latest cropping tips, coconut and paddy cultivation can be made profitable for the farmers and this alone can save the traditional crops of Kerala and its breathtakingly beautiful landscape that has enamored many painters and poets since time immemorial!
By the backwaters in Kuttanadu…
Published November 14, 2010 |
Kuttanadu is where you can catch glimpses of rural Kerala, with sprawling paddy fields, the criss-cross of waterways and ducks swimming all around, fresh water fish being caught and sold, people transporting things in boats etc.
Here we go with three different snaps of a small wayside shop selling fish, prawns, ducks and eggs, at Nedumudi by the backwaters on the Alappuzha-Changanassery road…
Kochi has become one of the most sought after destinations for cruise liners
Published October 29, 2010 | 
Going by the trend, Kochi is all set to be the most-sought-after destination for cruise ships sailing to India, well ahead of Mumbai and Goa. A total of 38 cruise liners will be coming to Kochi during the five months starting from November 2010 to April 2011, carrying around 21,000 deep pocketed passengers.
The vessel operated by the German Cruise Line Aida Cruises, was the first in the list to select the Cochin Port as its turnaround port. The Cunard’s prestigious ship and one of the most expensive cruise ships in the world Queen Mary 2, which holds the status of the world’s largest cruise ship ever built till 2006, will be berthing in Cochin backwaters on March 30, 2011. Last year, more than 35 cruise liners had visited the city.
By playing host to as many as 43 cruise ships between April 2007 and March 2008, the Cochin Port had set a new record in handling the largest number of such ships in a year in the country, pushing back Mumbai and Goa.
With many yacht operators eying Kochi as their port of call, this port city is all set to be an exotic hub for luxury liners in the days ahead. These multi-million dollar luxury yachts, and boats are being used not only by holiday makers but also by corporate houses for their business meets and recreational activities these days. The changing trends in yachting and the well equipped marina has played an important role in making Kochi a favored destination for luxury liners. In the days to come Kochiites can ogle at some of the most luxurious and spectacular luxury cruise liners from around the world dropping anchor in the tranquil backwaters of this beautiful city.
Kerala’s tourism- Bekal pulls the strings!
Published October 5, 2010 | 
Bekal- A source of attraction for historians, tourists and nature lovers has hit the bull’s eye when Bekal Resort Development Corporation (BRDC) is on its way to groom it as an International Tourism destination of Kerala.
Situated in the Northern most part of Kerala, Kasaragod, where fishing is the only source of livelihood, this striking beauty is noted for its sandy beaches, the 300 year old ancient Bekal Fort, near proximity to the two airports and the friendly socialising people.
Last month on behalf of the promotional efforts, a documentary film known as ‘Bekal’, produced by BRDC was screened in the Kalabhavan Theatre, Thiruvanthapuram. The script directed by Mr.C.P.Padmakumar pictures the many nature and man made attractions.
The film shortlist the main and the nearby attractions of Bekal, the employment source, the investment options and policy of BRDC and the major investors in the region.
This year also saw the inauguration of ‘Beach Camp’ by the minister of Tourism, Mr Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. In the Beach Camp, the first property of KTDC Hotels and Resorts in Bekal, 30 cottages are coming up in two hectares of land that is situated between the Bekal beach and The tsunami park.
Though it is regarded as a small region, it plays a prominent part in bringing limelights to God’s own country- Kerala. In another few months we might find Bekal as one of the top destinations in South, maybe more, let us hope so!
Promoting inland navigation in Kochi
Published September 17, 2010 | 
The ferry services of Kochi is all set to get an impetus with the introduction of 40 new boats under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme. In addition, an amount of Rs 5 crore was provided to the Kerala State Water Transport Department for the purchase of new boats and ` 6 crore was earmarked for the renovation of barges and jetties. These proposals on the anvil will improve the utilization of the untapped potential of waterways in the city.
Kochi is blessed with an expansive maze of water bodies that virtually link the various places and suburbs of the city and probably there are not many cities in India that can match these exceptional credentials of the ‘Queen of Arabian Sea’. Currently 12 of the 16 local bodies, including the Kochi Corporation within the urban agglomeration area of the city, have licensed ferry services and operate 30 different ferry services connecting various places to the city centre.
For the improvement of inland navigation, the existing ferry system needs to be modernised and executed to be an integrated public transport system. Boat building yards need t be set up and the boats should be incorporated with all the modern facilities to ensure an enjoyable transport option for the travelers. Experts in the field said the boats on the route have to be standardized and should be equipped with modern facilities so as to make traveling a new experience for passengers. It can also be integrated with the national highways to make up a comprehensive transport network. The NH-47 Kochi Bypass that starts at Aroor has a rail head and if the national waterway also touches Aroor, it will offer the ultimate convenience of three major means of transport to the commuters.
The ferry system comprises of country craft carriers, junkar services and motor boats. Water transport is cheap, ecofriendly and most importantly can play an important role in unclogging the choked road networks of Kochi. The journey through the beautiful waterways will be a delightful experience not only for the tourists but also for the regular travelers.
Kerala voted as the best holiday destination in Asia
Published September 2, 2010 | 
Kerala has been voted as the best Asian holiday destination ahead of even the blue chip tourist destinations like Bali, Phuket and Maldives. Kerala’s enviable coastline , the tranquil stretches of emerald backwaters, misty mountains and diverse tropical fauna and flora has become a sure shot winning combo for Kerala in tourist circuits.
Kerala Tourism got a boost when a million strong users of the famous travel portal, SmartTravelAsia.com, placed the state as the best Asian holiday destination of their choice. The “Best in Travel poll 2010’ carried out by an independent online travel magazine Smart Travel Asia conducted between May and July in Asia (India, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, and the Middle East), Europe and North America, saw the emergence of Kerala as the best Asian tourist destination.
The poll was mainly based on on ‘aspirational” brands and travel trends in the region.Bali and Phuket were voted as second and third most favourite holiday destinations in Asia and the only other India tourist places that made their way to the top 10 list were Rajasthan and Goa at eighth and tenth spot respectively.
“This is phenomenal recognition for the state and the people who are in the tourism sector, delivering an inspirational experience. Keralites should feel very proud of their contribution to this fantastic international achievement”, says Secretary, Kerala Tourism, V. Venu. The awards are unique because they single out not just popular places but truly exceptional places that enthrall travellers and keep them coming back, he added.
Travelers voted Kerala based on their travel experience and information they sourced from ads and PR apart from word of mouth publicity. Voters also polled in 12 categories including Asia’s best business hotels, luxury resorts, spas, destinations, business cities, shopping spots, and the world’s best airlines and airports.
So, in case you have not been to God’s own country.’ pack your bags and get ready for an out of the world holiday experience.
Kerala- A hub for different tourism sectors!
Published August 31, 2010 | 
Tourism, tourism, tourism everywhere! Kerala is known for its tourism in different sectors. The alluring charm and the unique serenity have made Kerala one of the best tourism destinations. One can find people from different countries and locations visiting this charming state in order to explore the various tourism areas, which it is highly known for.
Whether it is the high standard of food or the simple cooked puttu (steamed rice powder preparation), vegetarian dishes and fish curry, here comes the concept of Kerala being known for its culinary tourism. Though ‘idiyappam’, stew, puttu were influenced by the Portuguese cuisines, these food items are the customary dishes in every home in Kerala.
Now lately it is seen that film tourism has also been seen as a tourism ingredient that boosts Kerala tourism. With various films from Hollywood and Bollywood like Mistress of Spices, Dil Se, Bombay and most recently Ravan (Ravanan), being shot in Kerala, one can find that Kerala provides appropriate places for all these right shots.
Eco tourism- One of the fastest growing segments in the world, Kerala has joined in the race to show that it is nestled in the bounties of nature thereby attracting foreigners and travellers. Focusing on sustainable and eco tourism development with a rich biodiversity and unmatched natural stations makes Kerala a hot spot for eco tourism. This is a concept introduced in order to make people observe and understand more about the flora and fauna of Kerala.