Kerala plans to set up world class hospitality management institute

Kochi, Jun 12: The Kerala Government, in collaboration with major hospitality industry players, is planning to set up an International Hospitality Management Institute to train personnel for the industry, Kerala Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishanan said today.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Balakrishanan said that the institute would be aimed at training hospitality industry professionals not only from India but also other South Asian countries and from South-East Asia and the Middle East.

''While there is a big boom in the hospitality industry in this part of the world, the major hospitality training institutes are located either in Europe or the US. We are aiming to set up a world class institute focusing on human resource development and capacity building of the people involved in tourism-related activities,'' he added.

According to Kerala Tourism Director B Suman, the Centre had approved the project in principle and had asked for a 'detailed project report'. It had also promised an assistance of Rs ten crore for the project, which is expected to cost about Rs 40 crore in the first phase.

Major hospitality groups such as the Oberois, Taj and Leela had also been sounded out about the project and had given a positive response about coming on board, he added.

Announcing the thrust areas of the LDF Government in tourism promotion, the minister said that the state was targeting an investment of Rs 1,000 crore in the sector this year.

Inviting private players to step up their investments in the sector, Mr Balakrishanan said that the department envisaged an income generation of Rs 10,000 crore from tourism this year besides creation of 50,000 jobs.

''The guiding factors in any tourism scheme to be taken up by this governemnt will be indigenousness, environmental friendliness and community involvement. The government will give priority in attracting investments in tourism,'' he added.

During the current year, the Kerala Tourism Department was targeting a growth of 20 per cent in foreign and five per cent in domestic tourist arrivals, Mr Balakrishanan said. In 2005, foreign and domestic tourist arrivals to the state were 346,000 and 5.9 million respectively. The additional room capacity required would be met by encouraging homestays and private investments at different levels.

While continuing the promotion of backwater, pilgrim, Ayurveda and eco-tourism, the department would also give a thrust to new areas such as medical, monsoon, adventure and farm tourism, the minister said.

In a bid to link tourism with the traditional handicrafts sectors of the state, the deparment would promote the souvenir industry. To this end, the department had approved more than 30 designs to be promoted as souvenirs from the coir, handloom and handicrafts industries, Tourism Secretary E K Bharat Bhushan said.

To utilise the potential of the scenic and culturally rich Malabar region in north Kerala, a new circuit covering Bekal-Kannur-Thalasserry-Kozikode-Nilambur-Wayanad as nodal points will be developed.

Special incentives will be given to attract investments in these areas.

Among the major tourist sites to be developed in the area are the Bekal beach, the Malabar backwaters, Muzhuppilangad-Dharmadom island, sand banks of Badagara, Bepur and Thusharagiri in Kozhikode, Nilambur in Malappuram and Banasura dam and Beenachi eco-park in Wayanad. A cultural village to promote the cultural heritage of the Malabar area such as Theyyam will be developed in Kannur district.

The government will also prepare a scheme to develop waterways from Manjeswaram to Kovalam in coordination with the Water Resource Department. Central assistance will be sought for developing the West Coast Canal as a continuous link from Kovalam to Neeleswaram by opening up the uncut portion of 34.20 km, Mr Balakrishanan said.

Later, the minister officially declared open the 'Monsoon Tourism Festival' being organised by the Silver Storm water theme park at Athirapilly from June to August.

UNI