Latest news with #KeralaTourism
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
K-Homes remains a non-starter despite being in demand
Avinash Nair, a private company employee in Ahmedabad, has been anxiously waiting for the roll-out of the K-Homes project announced in the last Budget by the State government. A native of Malayalapuzha, he has an unoccupied property near the Malayalapuzha Devi temple in Pathanamthitta, a district home to many famed temples. K-Homes envisages renting out unoccupied houses in tourist destinations in Kerala to tourists as holiday homes. The project seeks to develop basic tourism infrastructure by maximising the utility of unoccupied homes. In the initial phase, it was planned to be implemented within 10 km of tourism destinations such as Fort Kochi, Kumarakom, Kovalam, and Munnar. 11.89 lakh vacant houses However, around six months after the project was announced, not a single house has been rented out. Kerala has around 11.89 lakh vacant houses as per the 2011 Census data (an estimated 15 lakh-odd houses now). As per the initial proposal, the project offers revenue to the house owners and ensures the maintenance and safety of such houses. Pathanamthitta has the highest concentration of premium unoccupied houses and villas in the State. 'My property has been lying vacant for the past few years, especially after the COVID-19 outbreak, as my parents shifted to the my sister's house in Kochi. I was not interested in renting out the property, considering the risks involved. Hence I decided to make the property available for holidaymakers,' said Mr. Nair. Kerala Tourism sources told The Hindu said a meeting was convened by the department recently as part of drafting the project guidelines. Soon, another round of meeting will be convened inviting suggestions from stakeholders. The Budget had earmarked ₹5 crore for the initial project expenses. Dearth of quality rooms Though Kerala has the highest number of star hotels in the country, it has a dearth of quality rooms to meet the needs of budget and luxury class tourists. The prime requirement for attracting foreign tourists is the availability of quality hotel rooms. Although the project had irked a section of the hospitality sector, especially homestay owners, who were against providing budgetary support to unoccupied houses since most such dwellings are owned by wealthy non-resident Indians, the tourism sector as a whole was in favour of the project, considering the high number of unoccupied houses in the State.
India.com
01-06-2025
- Politics
- India.com
BJP Accuses Pinarayi Vijayans Son-in-Law Of Funding Spy YouTubers Kerala Trip
New Delhi: The controversy surrounding 'spy' YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra has taken a new turn, with the BJP dragging Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's son-in-law's name to the headlines for hosting Malhotra's visit to the 'God's Own Country'. The Kerala Tourism Department, headed by P.A. Mohammed Riyas, extended a warm welcome to Jyoti Malhotra, a YouTuber arrested for alleged espionage activities for Pakistan, during her Kannur visit under a state-backed initiative. Notably, Riyas is the son-in-law of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. BJP leader and former Kerala state president K. Surendran took to his social media and questioned the purpose behind Malhotra's Kerala trip. He underscored, "Pak-Spy Jyoti Malhotra's Kannur trip was sponsored by Kerala Tourism, run by none other than Pinarayi Vijayan's son-in-law. Who did she meet? Where did she go? What's the real agenda?" Pak-Spy Jyoti Malhotra's Kannur trip was sponsored by Kerala Tourism, run by none other than Pinarayi Vijayan's son-in-law. Who did she meet? Where did she go? What's the real agenda? Why is Kerala rolling out red carpets for a Pak-linked spy?@pinarayivijayan is turning… — K Surendran (@surendranbjp) May 31, 2025 Training his gun further on the CM, he wrote, "Why is Kerala rolling out red carpets for a Pak-linked spy? Pinarayi Vijayan is turning Kerala into a safe havan for internal and external threats to our nation." Arrest and Allegations Against Jyoti Malhotra Jyoti Malhotra, creator of the 'Travel with JO' YouTube channel, was arrested under Operation Sindoor, a crackdown on an alleged ISI-backed spy network. She faces charges under the Official Secrets Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for her alleged involvement in espionage activities. Investigation Reveals Malhotra's Links to ISI Investigations revealed that Malhotra maintained direct contact with Pakistan's ISI, passed sensitive data, and had multiple interactions at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi. She reportedly made two trips to Pakistan, including a visit to Lahore's Anarkali Bazaar, where she was seen under armed escort. Malhotra was remanded to 14-day judicial custody on May 26, 2025
The Hindu
07-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Kerala Tourism to complete 100 projects this year
A high-level review meeting, chaired by Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas, here has decided to complete around 100 tourism projects at the initiative of the Department of Tourism this year. The meeting, attended by higher officials of Kerala Tourism on Tuesday, also discussed the ongoing projects as well as those in the pipeline. The Minister directed the officials to set an accurate time-frame for the completion of the current projects and follow up each phase of them in a systematic and time-bound manner. The Minister will also assign officials to ensure the timely completion of the projects. The meeting also decided to bring out an advanced event calendar of Kerala Tourism's flagship programmes such as Onam celebration, Champions Boat League, New Year lighting and Beypore Fest. Mr. Riyas suggested the beginning of preparations for the events conducted by Kerala Tourism. 'A dedicated system will be set up to evaluate the progress of the projects approved by the Centre as per the suggestions of the State government. An order has been issued for implementation of more projects that came up at the Tourism Investors Meet,' the Minister said. The meeting also approved an action plan for developing WE-Parks across the State utilising spaces under overbridges. The Kerala Tourism Infrastructure Ltd. (KTIL) will take up the construction of these parks.
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Kerala to go global with Apple TV series
Kerala Tourism's efforts to expand its footprints across continents has got an impetus with the globally acclaimed Apple TV series Car and Country: Quest showcasing the unique experience of driving through the God's Own Country. A 10-minute trailer of the latest season of the series featuring the State, a collaborative initiative of Kerala Tourism and Searchlight Productions U.K., was launched at a programme held at Hyatt Regency here on Tuesday. This unique travel and automotive adventure series premiering on Apple TV takes viewers on a mesmeric journey through Kerala and Italy with high-octane drives on luxury Ferrari cars and Royal Enfield motorcycles. 'The series is currently available for streaming on Apple TV in regions including the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Australia, India and 40 other countries in the next few months. Subsequently, it will be shown on different global broadcasting channels and OTT platforms in another 40 countries, allowing broader audience to experience this unique blend of adventure, culture, and automotive excellence,' said Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas. Kerala is the first destination to be selected outside Europe for this well-received series. According to Joseph Thomas Pottamkulam of Searchlight Productions, the series is a celebration of Kerala's evolving narrative as a prime tourism destination and will help Kerala Tourism's novel campaigns. Each episode of the travel and lifestyle show, presenting a grand spectacle of the breathtaking landscapes, compelling narratives and immersive experiences, highlights a car and a country. In India, it focuses exclusively on Kerala. At the event Directed by award-winning filmmaker Charlotte Fantelli and produced by Branded Studios, the six-part series, each having half-an-hour duration, features racing drivers Freddie Hunt (son of F1 champion James Hunt), Matias Louda (son of F1 champion Niki Louda), Deepak Narendran, and Ashique Thahir, blending adrenaline-rushing drives with immersive cultural experiences. Mr. Thahir and Mr. Hunt, were present at the event here. The six episodes of the series comprise two each on Kerala, Italy, and Ferrari, the world's top-notch luxury automotive brand. This one-of-its-kind collaboration gives greater global recognition to Kerala as a must-see destination. The series is the brainchild of Mr. Narendran, originally from Kerala, who envisioned a series that combines travel, culture, and automotive thrills.
The Hindu
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Nisarga festival brings top classical dancers back to Kozhikode
Big-time classical dance returns to the city on Monday (May 5). The two-day Nisarga dance festival, organised by Nrityalaya, promises some quality fare featuring some of India's leading dancers. And it could not have hoped for a better setting on these summer nights: the Kozhikode Beach. The second edition of the festival, which is supported by Kerala Tourism, will have performances in Mohiniyattam, Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi, three classical dances that are pretty popular in Kerala. But, it is not often that the city plays host to the big names in those disciplines. There used to be the Kozhikode edition of the renowned Soorya Festival, which brought the best of classical dancers, but that had a short life. So, for the dance lovers, the Nisarga festival offers hope. 'Kozhikode needs an opportunity to enjoy classical dance performances by our finest dancers, and that is why we at Nrityalaya decided to organise an event like this,' Bharatanatyam dancer Aswathy V. Nair, who is curating the festival along with her dancer husband N. Srikanth, tells The Hindu. 'Our children should be able to see what real classical dance is.' She is hoping to make this annual affair with the support from the government. 'Cities like Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur have regular dance festivals,' she points out. 'And we also should have one. The Kozhikode Beach is an ideal venue, too.' On the opening day, Neena Prasad will present Mohiniyattam and Vaibhar Arekar will perform Bharatanatyam. Rama Vaidyanathan (Bharatanatyam) and Sreelakshmi Govardhan (Kuchipudi) will dance on the second day.
