Department Of Tourism Kerala, The present Department of Tourism had its beginning in the State Guest Department of the erstwhile Travancore State and Hospitality Organisation of the Cochin State. At that time the functioning of the Department was confined to looking after the comforts of the Guests of Rulers and those of the Government. A few palaces and State Guest Houses were used for accommodating the Guests and a small fleet of cars and boats maintained for their transport needs.
In Travancore, the State Guest Department had been functioning since 1930. Till the re-organisation of States in 1948, the State Guest Department of Travancore State and Hospitality Department of Cochin State continued as such. Later, after the formation of Kerala State in 1956, these two separate organisations were combined as “Tourist Department” in 1958.This Department continues to be the Government agency responsible for looking after the comforts of Guests of the Government.
It also functions as the Estate Office so far as accommodation of VIPs like Ministers are concerned. Their conveyance needs are also managed by the Tourist Department. Although the Department continues to handle the hospitality function of the State, more emphasis is now given to Promotion, Planning and Development of Tourism. In 1981 it was again re-named as Department of Tourism.
Mission and Vision
The Department is headed by the Director (IAS cadre) and supported by two Additional Directors – one Additional Director (General- IAS cadre) and the other Additional Director (Hospitality – Non – IAS cadre). The Additional Director (General) is assisting the Director in all matters of the Department whereas the Additional Director (Hospitality) looks after the Hospitality wing only. There are three Joint Directors in the Department one at the Directorate and the other two at the Regional Offices, Ernakulam and Kozhikode.
The Joint Director at the Directorate is looking after the Estate Office duty. An Administrative officer and Finance Officer from Government Secretariat are looking after all administrative matters and financial matters respectively. Planning Section is headed by Planning Officer on deputation basis. Maintenance of vehicles and providing vehicles to State Ministers and State Guests are being monitored by an Executive Engineer from PWD (Mechanical) on deputation basis.
There are 3 Deputy Directors at the Directorate. One Deputy Director is looking after the maintenance of Guest Houses and Residential Bungalows of ministers and VIPs. The publicity wing is headed by a Deputy Director and assisted by a Tourist Information Officer. Accounts department is managed by a Deputy Director functioning as Drawing and Disbursing Officer. Statistics, Research and Computer division is manned by the staff from the Department of Economics and Statistics and supervised by the Research Officer.
The Department has Offices in all the districts of which six are headed by Deputy Directors and eight by Tourist Information Officers. There are fifteen Information Offices within the State and four outside the State. All these offices are concentrating very effectively in marketing Kerala Tourism.
Line departments, Institutions and organizations under the department
- Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC)
- Tourists Resorts (Kerala) Ltd. (TRKL)
- Bekal Resort Tourism Corporation
- The District Tourism Promotion Councils
- Kerala Institute of Travel and Tourism Studies (KITTS)
- Kerala Institute of Hospital Management Studies (KIHMS)
Major Functions of the department
The Department of Tourism has three major function such as (i) Hospitality wing of the State Government (ii) Estate Office duty and (iii) Tourism Development.
i.Hospitality Wing : The Department provides accommodation and transport to the State Guests including VVIPs and VIPs. Maintains 24 Guest Houses at Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram, Ponmudi, Attingal, Varkala, Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Aluva, Devikulam, Munnar, Peermade, Cheruthuruthy, Idukki, Thrissur, Guruvayoor, Malampuzha, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Sulthan Battery, Kannoor, Kasargod,Yathri Nivas at Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam and Kerala House at Kanyakumari and New Delhi. All reservations to these establishments except Yatri Nivas, Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi are made through GAD (Political) Govt. Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram.
The Department of Tourism has a fleet of cars of various models and brands to provide transport to the guests as well as the Ministers, Speaker, Leader of Opposition, etc.
ii. Estate Office Duty :
It is the responsibility of the Department of Tourism to provide furnished Residential Bunglows to the Ministers, Leader of Opposition, Chief Whip, Speaker etc. The transport facility is also provided to the above by the Department of Tourism.
iii. Tourism Development : A shift in the emphasis from Hospitality Management to Tourism Planning, Development & Marketing was the major change the Department witnessed in the 1980s.
The Budget pattern underwent a sea change by the 1990s to provide more for Tourism Development. The activities under this head can be broadly classified into:
(a). Marketing & Promotion, (b).Planning & Development. and (c). Support to other agencies.
Effective marketing and promotional measures are essential to attract tourists and to highlight Kerala as a distinct destination. For this, various measures such as media advertisement, printing and distribution of multi-colour brochures, hospitality to travel writers, conducting festivals, participating in National and International fairs & festivals etc are being adopted.
As part of Tourism Development, new destinations are being identified and various schemes are being implemented to develop them as important tourist spots in the State. Department is providing assistance to District Tourism Promotion Councils (DTPCs) in all the districts. Private sector investment needs encouragement from the Government. Accordingly Tourism was declared as an industry way back in 1986 and certain concession/incentives were offered for investment this sector.
Tourism Department Officials & Offices
| Shri. Kadakampally SurendranMinister for Co-operation, Tourism and Devaswoms | OFFICE2nd FloorAnnex IISecretariat, Statue,ThiruvananthapuramTel: 0471- 2336605, 2334294Mob : 9447048543 |
Department of Tourism |
Room No. 157 Near North Committee Room North Block Secretariat |
| Smt. Rani George IASSecretary | Tel: 0471-2339182, 2518002Fax: 0471- 2327270Mob: 9447753565E-mail: [email protected]@keralatourism.org |
| Director | Department of Tourism Park View Opposite to Museums CompoundThiruvananthapuram Kerala – 695 033, IndiaPhone : + 91-471-2321132 Fax : + 91-471-2322279Tourist Information toll free No : 1-800-425-4747Email : [email protected], [email protected] |
| Website: | www.keralatourism.org www.keralatourism.gov.in |