Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

KTDC to set up ‘Kerala House’ in Chennai

COIMBATORE: The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) will set up a ‘Kerala House’ in Chennai. K.G. Mohanlal, Managing Director, KTDC, told The Hindu that it would be the department’s first project outside Kerala.

Work on the 88-room hotel on Greams Road had already begun and it was expected to be completed by 2010. KTDC had identified Kanyakumari for its next project. Its Tamarind Hotels, a chain of 11 hotels, each with 10 to 20 rooms were also coming up in Kerala. The thrust, however, was on promoting eco-tourism and responsible tourism. Thenmala in Kollam district was the most recent of the KTDC’s eco-tourism projects, aimed at attracting international as well as domestic tourists to Kerala and educating them on the concept of ecologically sustainable tourism. The butterfly park and water adventure facilities there would interest students and the youth because of their educational value, Mr. Mohanlal pointed out. The State was also promoting mangrove-based eco-tourism projects. “Any visitor to an eco-tourism project should go back as an ambassador for conservation,” Mr.Mohanlal said. It should benefit the local community, providing them a livelihood.

Though the concept of eco-tourism had caught on well in Kerala, the State’s challenge was to retain the top position. Emphasis was on developing new products and marketing them aggressively.

Kochi would host the second international responsible tourism conference on March 21.

It would sensitise the public to the need for economically, socially and environmentally sustainable tourism. The KTDC’s turnover last year was Rs. 56 crore. “We are aiming to achieve more this year,” he said.

Mr. Mohanlal was in Coimbatore to inaugurate a food festival organised by the Department of Catering and Hotel Management, Hindusthan College of Arts and Science.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Inauguration
Call for price control to make higher education affordable
All India Scientists’ meeting
Development officers of LIC stage dharna
Ensure crime-free nights, police personnel told
Lok Adalats evoke good response
Medical camp conducted
Focus on malnutrition
Cancer affected bone removed to save limb
A boost to cotton farming
Ensuring justice to victims of abuse, violation
‘Ultimate techies’ bag job offers from Cognizant
‘Graduation not an end to learning process’
Ensure crime-free nights, police personnel told
Continuous lok adalats evoke good response
Cash award for top scorers
Freak train accident
KTDC to set up ‘Kerala House’ in Chennai
Own buildings for police stations in 10 years: DGP
In Coimbatore Today

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu