Mr. Arif Mohammed Khan, Governor of Kerala, stressed the need to utilise the advanced global trends in safety and security to reassure tourists visiting the state.
“We have to take extra care to see that crimes, including drug trafficking and terrorism, do not hamper our efforts to ensure safe destinations for tourists,” he said.
Inaugurating a two-day International Conference on Global Trends in Tourism Studies – ‘Tourism: A Better Future for All’ at Kerala Institute of Travel & Tourism Studies to commemorate the Pearl Jubilee of the Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies (KITTS), an autonomous institution under the state government in Trivandrum on September 28.
He also wanted to develop a ‘customer monitoring system’ devise rooted in their safety concerns.
Pointing out that niche tourism products like pilgrim circuits, eco and adventure were promoted in the last one decade, Khan said the success of any venture in tourism depends on how well the advanced global trends in safety and security are utilised.
Referring to the floods in the last two years, the Governor said rebuilding of tourist destinations has to start by revitalising the areas in the Western Ghats as it is a major determinant of tourism in the state.
He suggested that Kerala should follow the global trend of rebuilding of destinations through Destination Management Organisations, which would be active throughout the year.The Governor said this rebuilding has to be done through the use of state-of-the-art technology.
Kerala’s success in tourism was scripted by a combination of nature’s bounty, cultural wealth and the people’s readiness to share with the world the beauty of the land’s heritage.
Mr. Kadakampally Surendran, Minister for Tourism, said the government would take steps to make KITTS a centre of research, besides creating world-class trained manpower. He said that the tourism sector was a major generator of jobs and that more employment opportunities could be generated by encouraging private participation.
The Responsible Tourism (RT) movement in Kerala has contributed jobs to unemployed youth as well as farmers and housewives.”The philosophy behind RT is to generate benefits to local residents,” he said.
Mr. Guk Hwang, UNWTO Deputy Director, praised Kerala’s tourism initiatives, especially the Responsible Tourism activities carried out by KITTS as the nodal agency when it won the UNWTO Ulysses award and said the state is one of the most sought after tourist destinations on the planet.
Ms. Rani George, Secretary, Tourism, traced the evolution of tourism in Kerala since it was declared an industry in 1986.”The launch of Responsible Tourism in 2008 has helped connect the travel trade and the government to the community,” she observed.
Dr. Rajashree Ajith, Director, KITTS presented the report, in which she recalled the milestones achieved during the last 30 years.
KITTS is an autonomous institute under the Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala, established in 1988, to cater to the needs of the global tourism industry. This ISO certified (9001: 2008) institute conducts various courses and training programs for both students and professionals in the tourism industry.
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