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Tourism News

Training and Innovation Positioned as Pillars of Kerala’s Tourism Future

Published in Newsletter Issue No. 381 - May 2025

Kerala reinforced its focus on innovation and skill development in tourism with Shri P. A. Mohamed Riyas, Minister, Kerala Tourism, underscoring the importance of training and industry readiness at a national seminar held on April 24 in Thiruvananthapuram. The one-day seminar, titled ‘Innovations in Tourism Industry: Redefining Opportunities in a Dynamic Global Landscape,’ was organised by the Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies (KITTS) in collaboration with the Indian Society for Training and Development (ISTD), Thiruvananthapuram chapter.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Riyas pointed out that Kerala’s tourism sector was expanding into specialised verticals such as responsible tourism, heritage tourism, and adventure tourism, creating new avenues for young entrepreneurs and professionals. He stressed that innovation and product development would be key in tapping these opportunities.

The Minister also reiterated the Tourism Department’s commitment to supporting startups and MSMEs through incubation centres, mentoring, and financial assistance. He highlighted the importance of upskilling in areas like hospitality management, language training, digital literacy, and administrative expertise to prepare Kerala’s workforce for global competition.

Programmes aimed at nurturing entrepreneurial spirit among local communities and youth were also noted as vital to achieving inclusive socio-economic growth. Shri Riyas mentioned that around 20 entrepreneurs had recently participated in a pre-bid meeting for the upcoming Sasthampara Adventure Park and Training Centre project, reflecting the growing interest in tourism-linked ventures.

During the event, Shri Benny Panikulangara of Royal Tours received the ISTD Trivandrum Chapter’s Outstanding Outbound Tour Operator Award for 2024–25 from the Minister. KITTS Director Dr. M.R. Dileep and ISTD Trivandrum Chapter Chairman Dr. K.S. Chandrasekar also addressed the inaugural session, encouraging young talents to drive innovation in Kerala’s tourism landscape.