Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Heli-tourism runs into rough weather

Thiruvananthapuram: The helicopter services launched to link major tourist destinations has run into rough weather with few takers for the services.

The two private companies that came forward to operate the helicopter services by stationing helicopters in Thiruvananthapuram international airport could operate only a few services.

Lack of demand and high cost of the tour packages were cited as the main reasons for heli-tourism failing to take-off as expected by the tourism industry and the aviation companies.

The helicopter services were launched with much fanfare by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) in association with Deccan Aviation in October last. King Rotors & Air Charter and city-based Air Travel Enterprises Ltd. soon came forward to launch helicopter services from January this year.

The KTDC had launched a seven nights/eight days package connecting Kovalam, Kumarakom, Thekkady, Munnar, and Kochi to commence the service. The package costs Rs.5 lakh, which includes helicopter charges, local transport, food, and accommodation for five persons. The 30-minute ‘Bird’s Eye-View’ package that covers the beach, backwater and hill station costs Rs.35,000 for five persons.

The second operator had also come up with attractive packages such as ‘Shoreline Flights’ within the capital, ‘Fly the Hills’ services to Thekkady, Munnar, Kochi and Kumarakom, ‘Backwaters by Air’ to Kumarakom, and ‘Capital by Air’ services. But, response to these services had also not been encouraging for the operators.

A KTDC official said there was not much demand for the helicopter services. “We are getting enquiries from foreign and domestic tourists and from tour operators even from outside the state whether helicopter services can be operated from Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi to Lakshwadeeep,” he said. Services to Lakshwadeep cannot be operated with these helicopters.

President of the Kerala Travel Mart Society E. M. Najeeb said that it was not feasible to operate with just one helicopter based in the capital. The new initiative was also not marketed properly to attract tourists and promote medical tourism.

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