Kerala
Tourism’s Pavilion, featuring the state’s unique festivals and traditions, has
made a big appeal at the 43rd edition of World Travel Mart (WTM)
London being held from November 7 to 9.
Minister of
Tourism P A Muhammed Riyas, who is leading the delegation, inaugurated the
pavilion.
The 120-sqm
pavilion (AS 402) is themed “The Magical Every day”, showcasing the vibrant
festival celebrations in God’s Own Country. A major attraction is the huge ‘Kettu
Kala’, a gigantic effigy of a pair of bulls. The show has been attracting a
steady stream of visitors.
K S Srinivas
IAS, Principal Secretary, Tourism, P B Nooh, Director, Tourism, and K
Rupeshkumar, State Coordinator, Kerala Responsible Tourism Mission, are among
the dignitaries who are part of the delegation to the WTM London 2022, a
meeting place for the global travel trade that attracts top travel destinations
and tourism buyers and sellers from all over the world.
Kerala
Tourism is participating in the three-day event with 10 trade partners–Alhind
Tours and Travels, Pioneer Personalized Holidays, Trail Blazer Tours India,
Abad Hotels and Resorts, Citrine Hospitality Ventures, Niraamaya Wellness
Resorts, Reen Resorts, Sagara Beach Resort, Tamara Leisure Experiences, and
Somatheeram Ayurveda Group.
The WTM is
an important event given that India, especially Kerala, is attempting to step
up the recovery of inbound tourism to the pre-pandemic level, and comes at a time when
the travel world is opening up.
Meanwhile, in a celebration of the state’s sustainable tourism practices in the past 15
years, the WTM London is scheduled to feature a seminar on Kerala’s pioneering
RT activities.
‘Looking Back,
Moving Ahead: 15 Years of Kerala’s Responsible Tourism Journey’ is the title of
the analytical session to be held on November 9, the last day of WTM
London.
Riyas will
deliver the inaugural address at the hour-long session. WTM Responsible Tourism
Advisor Dr. Harold Goodwin will deliver the keynote address at the session. The
panelists include RT Consultant Adama Bah and ICRT South Africa’s Transfrontier
Parks Destinations Chief Executive Glynn O’ Leary. Srinivas will moderate the
session while Nooh will deliver the welcome address. K Rupeshkumar will give a
presentation on ‘Community Empowerment Through Responsible Tourism–Kerala Model’.
