Indian Tourism Ministry to create 2.5 crore additional Employment in 12th Five-Year Plan

Indian Ministry of Tourism has targeted to create additional employment of about 2.5 crore in the Tourism sector during the 12th five-year plan. The additional employment that would be created would be both direct as well as indirect employment. India’s share in the international tourist arrivals is also targeted to increase to 1% from the existing 0.64%, according to information provided by the ministry. During the 12th five year plan, the ministry is poised to address the various issues related with development and promotion of tourism in the country including Punjab, in consultation with the concerned state governments and union territory administrations and tourism industry stakeholders.

Visa-on-Arrival boost for Kerala Tourism: Oommen Chandy

The introduction of Tourist Visa-on-Arrival (T-VoA) facility at Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi Airports will help attract more foreign visitors to the state, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said on Wednesday. T-VoA is currently available for citizens of 11 countries - Cambodia, Finland, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Luxembourg, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam. T-VoA allows Tourists from these nations to request for a visa upon their Arrival at either of the two Airports. The fee is 60 US Dollars and the visa is valid for up to 30 days. It will be issued twice a year and is for those coming for Recreation, Sightseeing and Meeting friends or relatives. Those applying should not have a residence or occupation in India. They should have a passport with a minimum validity of six months and produce proof of confirmed Hotel Booking and Return Tickets when applying for T-VoA. The facility at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport became operational on August 15.

Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai - iKeralaTourist.com

Banner AD - iKeralaTourist.com

Our Banner AD in getit.in website.
http://www.getit.in/ernakulam/tours-and-travels/

Promotion Package - iKeralaTourist.com

Our new Promotion Package. For more details, please write us on info@ikeralatourist.com

Malaikottai (Rockfort) Temple, Trichy

Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur

Thrissur Athirapally

Thrissur - Forest officials put in place restriction on tourists visiting Athirapally waterfalls due to alarming rise of water. - courtesy The Times of India 

Facebook Page - iKeralaTourist.com

Check it out our 'Facebook Page'.
https://www.facebook.com/ikeralatourist 

Emirates increases Free Baggage allowance

Emirates Airlines announced that passengers travelling in Economy Class from ‘India to Dubai’ will be allowed to carry an additional 10 kgs of Baggage for a limited period. Passengers in Economy Class will now be able to enjoy a total baggage allowance of 40 kgs instead of the 30 kgs offered previously. This offer is valid for booking from August 1, 2013 to September 30, 2013 and for travel during the period September 10 to 30, 2013. Emirates’ regular rates will be applied to baggage in excess of this allowance.

Kerala Tourism revenues cross Rs 21,000 Crore in 2012

Kerala's total revenue from Tourism, both direct and indirect, has touched Rs 21,125 cr in 2012 as compared to Rs 19,037 crore in 2011. The foreign exchange earnings also went up from Rs 4,221.99 crore in 2011 to Rs 4,548 crore in 2012, Deputy Director of Kerala Tourism, Plazi Haldane, told a press conference. Over 1.01 crore Domestic and 7.94 crore Foreign Tourists visited Kerala last year, Haldane said. Fiscal year revenue for 2012-13 will be increased by 10 per cent and the exact assessment of turnover would be opened later this year, Haldane said. The state's Tourist figures would grow by 8 to 10 per cent in current fiscal year, he said. Kerala Tourism department has introduced two major schemes – ‘Seaplane Project’ and ‘Project Muziris’ -- to enhance the travel experience and add to its array of tourist sites. He said with road shows about the state as a Tourist Destination being held in other states, Kerala would soon become a Prime Tourist Destination.

Time for Ayurvedic Rejuvenation Programmes - iKeralaTourist.com

In Kerala the season of festivities never comes to a close. When humans take a respite from their celebrations, by the month of June the baton is taken over by a different mood of Nature. She starts her boisterous monologue called Monsoon lasting for two months. But the breather taken by the people here is not without any reason. For what follows the Monsoon is the Malayalam month of ‘Karkidakam’ (roughly July-August), which has been deemed as the best time to indulge in Rejuvenation Therapies by the oldest healthcare system in the world - Ayurveda, that has its roots in this soil. It is written in the scriptures of Ayurveda that the month of ‘Karkidakam’, for the lack of dust and humidity in the atmosphere, is ideal for all rejuvenation practices especially Panchakarma – a therapeutic way extolled by Ayurveda, for eliminating toxic elements from the body. The hectic and stressful modern life that we lead often triggers the accumulation of toxins, causing ailments to the body. This is where Panchakarma comes to our rescue. By flushing out the toxins from our body it restores vitality. Ayurveda recommends for a healthy Vegetarian Diet devoid of any impurities. ‘Karkkidaka Kanji’, a special Ayurvedic gruel made with rice and herbs is ideal for this season. So come to Kerala this Monsoon and enjoy the euphoria of nature. Let the magic wands of Ayurveda do wonders on you.

Ilaveezhapoonchira - iKeralaTourist.com

The promise of a green-carpet welcome and a holiday amid the verdant landscapes are something which await all travellers to Kerala. But a ride to this beautiful valley in Kottayam district is something that redefines all your notions of greenery. The place is fittingly named as Ilaveezhapoonchira, meaning 'a floral bund sans leaves'. Well, how would a place get littered with foliage if there are no trees? That’s what makes this green dreamland different from the rest of the State. Spread over thousands of acres, Ilaveezhapoonchira is located at a distance of 55 km from Kottayam and 20 km from Thodupuzha. Guarded by three fascinating hillocks – namely Mankunnu, Kodayathoormala and Thonippara, each rising to about 3200 feet above sea level – this virgin land is a perfect outing for trekking enthusiasts. It is also deemed as one of the best spots in Kerala to behold the charisma of sunrise and sunset. The place can be easily accessed both from Pala (Palai) in Kottayam and Thodupuzha in Idukki.

Getting there:
By Road: Take a bus from Thodupuzha to Kanjar (15 km) on the Moolamattam road. From Kanjar, only four-wheelers go to Ilaveezhapoonchira (7 km). 

Nearest Railway Station: Kottayam, about 55 km
Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport, about 76 km

Himachal Pradesh to boost Film Tourism

To promote Himachal Pradesh as a favourite and major destination for promoting film making a Draft Film Tourism Policy is on the anvil which would not only give fillip to tourism industry but would also facilitate film activities in the state. Himachal had always been a popular destination for film industry and had been attracting film makers since last six decades and the Draft Film Tourism Policy would pave way for Bollywood industry to invest in the state. Director, Information and Public Relations Department, Rajender Singh disclosed this while deliberating at the Workshop on 'Single Window Clearance Mechanism for Shooting of Films in India' at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. He said that the state offers a wide range of interests, assets and activities to the film producers.