Tour operators look to shrug off Covid blues, make industry vibrant again
Major tour operators from across India converge in Kerala to find means to promote travel destinations
The constraints that had come about due to the coronavirus spread and the related restrictions imposed on travel could be seen as making way for some strategic moves by the tourism industry, of late. Kerala’s tourism scenario is currently upbeat in anticipation of the new measures that could be ushered in following a conclave of stakeholders from across the country soon.
Looking towards firming up partnership with tourism stakeholders in Kerala, major tour operators from across the country have converged at the renowned beach destination of Kovalam in Thiruvananthapuram for a three-day destination promotion meet that will lead to a slew of business decisions.
Tour operators line up B2B meets
Organised by South Kerala Hoteliers Forum (SKHF) in association with Kerala Tourism and Tourism Professionals Club (TPC), the tourism promotion meet has as its objectives, destination promotion and B2B meets to work out mutually beneficial packages to promote prime destinations in the state. The visiting tour operators are also being given a tour of the prime spots in Kovalam, Varkala and nearby Poovar as part of the promotion drive.
A Kerala Tourism source said that more than 120 travel agents and tour operators from key markets like Gujarat, Delhi, Telangana, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have lined up meetings with stakeholders from the state, including hotel partners to work out mutually beneficial strategies and packages that would give a tremendous boost to tourism in the state, which has resumed activities in full swing.
Kerala continues to emanate charm
According to Kerala’s Tourism Minister PA Mohamed Riyas, this is a clear sign that major tour operators of the country are showing great interest in Kerala as a prime destination that has set a model by successfully overcoming the constraints triggered by the pandemic.
“It can be seen as an outcome of our fool-proof implementation of Covid-19 safety measures like bio-bubble in tourism destinations. Tour operators from across the country are convinced that Kerala is the safest place and the state government will offer all support to their plans,” the Minister added.
Though for time being the focus of the networking initiative is on southern destinations, it will soon be extended to the other parts of Kerala.
