Kerala Tourism courts row after roping in YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra for tourism promotion
According to a reply by Kerala Tourism to an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the Tourism department made use of the services of 41 selected social media influencers for the promotion of the State. The 41 selected influencers also toured the State during the period between January 1 and May 21, 2025.
The invitation to Ms. Malhotra was extended by Kerala Tourism, and she had visited various tourist destinations in Kannur, Kozhikode, Kochi, Alappuzha, and Munnar. The department had footed the bills for her stay and travel apart from the engagement rate fixed for availing her service.
For six days
According to a statement issued by the office of Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas on Sunday, she was part of the media familiarisation (FAM) trip conducted by Kerala Tourism, and she had stayed here for about six days between January 15 and 21, 2025. When Ms. Malhotra, with 392k followers on social media, was selected for the promotional tour by the empanelled marketing agencies, there was no case charged against her by any of the enforcement agencies in India.
To date, Kerala had made use of the services of over 500 vloggers during the last 15 years as part of tourism promotion campaigns like Blog Express, Keralam Kanam, My First Trip, Human by Nature, Land of Harmony, etc. Ms. Malhotra's service was also used by other States for promotional activities. The only thing Kerala Tourism could ensure during the time of selecting the social media influencers was that they were not charged with any cases during the time of selection.
'Thwarting progress'
The present controversy is aimed at thwarting the progress and reputation of Kerala as a safe, secure, and beautiful destination in the country, said the statement.
Earlier, an AI-generated picture of the grounded F-35B of the U.K. at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport used by the Kerala Tourism for the promotion of the State went viral on social media.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
When mountains shed their jewels
One crisp Dec morning in 2000, during a routine visit to the Aralam forests, butterfly experts Jaffer Palot and V C Balakrishnan witnessed a breathtaking sight—an endless stream of Common Albatross butterflies (Appias albina) gliding along the forest clearing carved by Cheenkanni River, in shimmering white and yellow like drifting petals. Little did they know the fleeting spectacle would spark a 25-year journey of observation and documentation by butterfly enthusiasts and researchers, revealing Aralam's extraordinary butterfly diversity. What began as a moment of wonder evolved into a sustained scientific effort under the Malabar Natural History Society (MNHS), which has conducted annual butterfly surveys for the past 25 years. This work helped establish Aralam as Kerala's butterfly capital, now set to be renamed Aralam Butterfly Sanctuary—India's first official butterfly sanctuary. The 55 sq. km. Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary established in 1984 and situated in the valley of Brahmagiri mountain ranges is the prime butterfly habitat of Kerala for good reason. Of the 327 species of butterflies found in Kerala, a staggering 266 speciesover 82%have been recorded here. Among them are 27 species endemic to the Western Ghats and six listed under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act. Endemic species include the Travancore Evening Brown, Sahyadri Rosy Oak Blue, Malabar Rose, Malabar Banded Swallowtail, Malabar Banded Peacock, Shiva Sunbeam, Nilgiri Grass Yellow, Sahyadri Silver Royal, Kodagu Forest Hopper, Southern Spotted Ace, Nilgiri Plain Ace, Sahyadri Orange Ace, Sahyadri Banded Ace, and Sahyadri Albatross. Other significant species recorded are the Purple Spotted Flitter, Maculate Lancer, Black Angle, White-tipped Line Blue, Orchid Tit, Malabar Flash, Blue Nawab and Blue-banded Duffer. 'The range of forest habitats—from moist deciduous to semi-evergreen, evergreen, and shola grasslands— allows Aralam to support this incredible diversity,' says Jafer Palot, scientist with the Zoological Survey of India and MNHS member. He explains that Aralam's unique climate and forest gradient, from sea level to 1600 metres, supports diverse plant life, creating an ideal butterfly habitat. 'Almost all forest types found in the state are present within the sanctuary,' he adds. The most awe-inspiring event at Aralam is the annual butterfly migration. Each year from Dec to Feb, the sanctuary bursts with life as millions of exquisite butterflies, predominantly the Common Albatross, undertake an altitudinal migration, gliding downhill from the upper reaches of the forest. The phenomenon typically begins around 9.30am and lasts until about 2pm. For the indigenous communities living around Aralam, the migration is not just biological—it's cultural. Local tribal lore likens the migration to women heading to a wedding, dressed in shimmering white, gliding gracefully through the canopy corridor. Aralam is also a key site for the annual Danaine butterfly migration to the Western Ghats from the Eastern Ghats and southern plains. During the 2013 survey, more than four lakh Danaine butterflies were recorded roosting near Pothanplavu. 'Though we've tracked the migration since 2001, many unknowns remain, including where these congregations are headed,' says Palot. Earlier, it was assumed the butterflies came from Coorg via Kottiyoor and moved to Wayanad en route to the Nilgiris. 'Now we know it's an altitudinal migration from higher reaches above Meenmutti Falls. Still, we don't know where they ultimately go, as Albatross butterflies are forest species and rarely leave forested areas.' These butterflies likely originate from altitudes above Meenmutti Falls, where their host plant Drypetes—locally called Asthi maram—grows abundantly. As the population grows and nectar becomes scarce, a mass dispersal down the slopes is triggered. 'In a five-minute count this Jan, we recorded over 12,000 butterflies,' says Palot. 'That translates to three to four lakh butterflies a day, and crores over the entire season.' The Cheenkanni River and its streams play a critical role in this migration. The mineral-rich riverbanks allow butterflies to supplement their diet with essential nutrients like sodium, nitrogen, and amino acids—vital for flight and reproduction. 'Maintaining the riverbank's integrity is crucial,' Palot says, warning that illegal sand mining threatens these habitats. Aralam wildlife sanctuary warden G Pradeep says the butterfly diversity is a testament to its ecosystem integrity, as butterflies are indicator species and help with pollination. 'Renaming the area as a butterfly sanctuary will allow us to implement habitat management like removing invasive species and promoting biodiversity-friendly vegetation. Many larval host plants like Mullilam (Zanthoxylum rhetsa) are disappearing from non-forest areas,' he adds. Environmentalists stress that addressing illegal sand mining along the Cheenkanni River is vital, as it threatens the sanctuary's habitat and affects mud-puddling behavior of butterflies during migration. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Ticket cancellations leave Secunderabad richer by Rs 700 crore from 2021 to 2025
HYDERABAD: Ticket cancellations are raking in mega bucks for South Central Railway (SCR). Between 2021 and 2025, the zone earned a staggering Rs 698 crore through cancellation charges - Rs 198 crore of this being added to its coffers in 2024 alone, reveals a recent RTI application filed by TOI. The numbers suggest cancelled tickets contribute close to 3.5% of SCR's annual passenger revenue. And this is only expected to rise further now, say sources, with an upward revision in rail ticket charges beginning July 1. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad As per rules, railways deducts 25% of the ticket fare if a confirmed ticket is cancelled 12 to 48 hours before scheduled departure of the train. This increases to 50% if the ticket is cancelled anytime between 4 to 12 hours. In case of wait-listed tickets, Rs 60 is deducted towards clerical charges. The RTI reply shows that in 2024, SCR had 1.4 crore passengers cancel their tickets of which 65 lakh belonged to wait-listed travellers. The Secunderabad division accounted for the highest load of these cancellations. In fact, the count of wait-listed passengers cancelling tickets has gone up by four times in the last four years. Deductions leave rail users fuming If 15.96 lakh of them were cancelled in 2021, the count climbed to 65.62 lakh in 2024. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Providers are furious: Internet access without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo Between January and May 2025 alone, 31.52 lakh wait-listed passengers cancelled their railway bookings. "In comparison, passengers received refunds of more than Rs 2,900 crore between 2021 and May 2025. In 2024, SCR processed refunds amounting to Rs 871.37 crore," the RTI revealed. During 2024-25, the zone recorded a passenger revenue of Rs 5,710 crore. Passengers rue the hefty penalty. "I was surprised to see 30% being deducted towards cancellation charges," said Narayan Rao from Himayathnagar who recently travelled from Rajahmundry to Secunderabad. "I had bought a sleeper class ticket but had to cancel it at the last minute due to some unforeseen reason. I got only Rs 210 of the total Rs 330 in refund. Such high cancellation charges are disappointing. The railways should consider revising it," he said. Another rail user from Tolichowki, Yakub Ali, complained about the railway's policy of charging a fee even on wait-listed tickets. "I can still understand if they are charging a nominal fee for confirmed bookings. But why do they need to impose clerical charges when a ticket is not even confirmed?" asked Ali who regularly travels on the Kacheguda-Kadapa and Secunderabad- Vijayawada routes.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
British F-35 fighter jet stuck in Kerala may finally fly home next week: Report
A British F-35B fighter jet, grounded at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala due to a technical snag, is expected to return to the UK as early as next week, the Associated Press reported, citing Indian officials. British Royal Navy fighter jet, stranded for about a month due to a technical issue, is being moved to a designated facility at Thiruvananthapuram airport for assessment by British engineers. (@UKDefenceIndia) The jet was on a routine sortie over the Arabian Sea last month when bad weather prevented it from returning to the Royal Navy's flagship aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales. The aircraft was diverted to Thiruvananthapuram, where it landed safely on June 14. UK engineers are currently conducting repairs, according to Indian officials quoted by the news agency. The officials added that repairs are expected to be completed in the coming days, with the jet likely to return to the UK sometime next week. The British High Commission confirmed to The Associated Press that a UK engineering team has been deployed to 'assess and repair' the aircraft. Stranded fighter jet turns into meme sensation Since being stranded, the stealth fighter, one of the world's most advanced and valued at around $115 million, has become the subject of memes and cartoons on social media. In one social media post, Kerala's tourism department shared an image of the jet on the tarmac, surrounded by coconut trees, along with a fictitious five-star review, 'Kerala is such an amazing place, I don't want to leave. Definitely recommend,' it said. Kerala's top tourism official, K Biju, said the viral post featuring the stranded British fighter jet was shared in 'good humor.' 'It was our way to appreciate and thank the Brits who are the biggest inbound visitors to Kerala for tourism,' said Biju. Another cartoon posted on X showed the jet enjoying snacks with a group of locals against a picturesque backdrop. There has been speculation that if the engineers fail to fix the aircraft, it might be partially dismantled and flown out on a cargo plane. However, the UK's Ministry of Defence dismissed the speculation in an emailed statement, the report added.
