Kerala Government has reconstituted the State Tourism Advisory Committee headed by Mr. Kadakampally Surendran, Minister for Tourism, Kerala for the period of 2018-2020, with all the existing 18 members from the Travel and tourism industry in the outgoing committee which was constituted by previous UDF government in 2016 along with an addition of four new members from Capital region.
Ms. Rani George IAS, Secretary, Tourism will be the Vice Chairman of the Committee and Mr. P. Bala Kiran IAS, Director of Kerala Tourism as Convener of the 28 member State Tourism Advisory Committee. Chairman and Managing Director of KTDC are the Ex officio members of the committee.
Mr. Jose Dominic (Managing Director of CGH Earth Hotels), Mr. E.M. Najeeb,( President, Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industry & CMD of Air Travel Enterprises Group), Mr. Abraham George alias Johny ( Managing Director of Intersight Holidays Kochi), Mr. Baby Mathew (President, Kerala Travel Mart Society and CMD of Somatheeram Ayurveda Group), Mr. Riaz Ahamed ( Managing Director, Abad Hotels & Resorts), Mr. Jose Mathew ( MD, Rainbow Cruises Alappzuha ), Cdr. Sam T Samuel ( MD, Kalypso Adventures Kochi), Mr. Ravisankar.KV, (Managing Editor, Tourism India), Mr. Jospeh Kuncheria Marattukulam ( MD, Ruby Home Stay, Nilambur, Mr. Riyaz.U.C ( MD, Spiceland Holidays), a representatives from the Taj Hotels in Kerala and Station Manager, Air India, Trivandrum are the existing members in the committee.
Representatives from prominent Travel Trade Associations in the state were also included in the committee. Mr. G. Gopinath, President, Association of Approved & Classified Hotels of Kerala (MD, BTH Sarovaram Cochin),Mr. Vancheeswaran, President, Wayanad Tourism Organisation, Mr. Anish Kumar. P.K., President, ATTOI – Association of Tourism Trade Organizations of India ( CEO, The Travel Planners, Trivandrum), Mr. Sejoe Jose ( Chairman, Kerala Chapter of Indian Association of Tour Operators(IATO) (MD of Marvel Holidays), Mr. Chacko Paul, President of South Kerala Hoteliers Forum ( MD, Travancore Heritage Resort Chowara), Mr. M.P. Sivadattan ( Director, Kerala Sate Home Stay and Tourism Society), Mr. V.C. Zacharia, President, Kerala House Boat Owners Federation, ( MD, Lakes & Lagoons, Alappuzha) are the associations representatives in the committee.
Mr. M.R. Narayanan ( MD, Poovar Island Resort), Mr. S. Rajasekharan Nair ( CMD, UDS Hotels Kovalam), Mr. P.I. Dileepkumar ( General Manager, The Leela Raviz Kovalam), Mr. B. Sukesh ( Amy’s Home Stay, Thiruvallam, Thiruvananthapuram) are the new members in the reconstituted committee.
Out of the 22 Tourism industry nominees, Ten each members are from South & Central Kerala regions and two members from Malabar region. Hotel industry will be represented by nine members along with Six Tour operators and three home stay operators. Two nominees are from House Boat industry and one each representative from Ayurveda and Travel media segments.
The government has also reconstituted the focus group of marketing consisting of the members Mr. Anish Kumar. P.K. ( MD of The Travel Planners, Trivandrum), Mr. Sejoe Jose ( MD, Marvel Holidays Cochin), Mr. Ranju Jospeh, ( Director, Pioneer Personalised Holidays Cochin) , Mr. Riyaz.U.C ( MD, Spiceland Holidays Cochin), Mr. Shailendran.M ( Vice President, CGH Earth Hotels), Mr. Roy Chacko ( Head- Sales & Marketing, Vythiri Resort, Wayanad), Mr. Subhash C Bose( Corporate General Manager, Somatheeram Ayurveda group), Mr. Pradeep Narayanan( Corporate General Manager, Joys Hotels & Resorts), Mr. Manu. P.V., MD, Discover Kerala Holidays, Mr. Jibran Asif, Director, Abad Hotels, Mr. Jose Pradeep, Director, Hotel Yuvarani Residency, Unni Joseph, India Impressions, Mr. Jobin Jospeh, Spice Routes, Sajimon Jose, Great Escapes, and Mr. Shailesh Nair ( MD, Mystikal Holidays Kochi).
Mr. P. Balakiran IAS, Director of Kerala Tourism will be the Chairman of the Focus Group. Mr. Jafar Malik IAS, Additional Director ( General) as appointed as the Vice Chairman and Mr. V.S. Anil Deputy Director ( Marketing) will serve as the Convener.
The state Tourism Advisory committee was constituted in 2012 to advise and formulate the policy for Destination development, Product development, marketing strategies, market research etc.
