Kerala sees healthy rise in tourist arrivals, revenue

Thiruvananthapuram, June 30 (IANS) Kerala Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan Tuesday informed the state assembly that there was a 14.84 percent growth in tourism revenue and a 14.41 percent rise in tourist arrivals in 2008 as compared to 2007.

In reply to a question, Balakrishnan said that the number of domestic tourists visiting the state was 6.27 million in 2006, went up to 6.64 million in 2007 and touched 7.59 million in 2008.

The number of foreign tourists also grew from 429,000 in 2006 to 516,000 the next year and 599,000 in 2008.

Likewise, in revenue terms, a healthy growth was registered.

“The overall revenue from tourism, which stood at Rs.91.26 billion in 2006 grew to Rs.114.33 billion the next year and reached Rs.131.30 billion in 2008. Foreign exchange earnings also grew from Rs.19.88 billion in 2006 to Rs.26.41 billion and crossed Rs.30.67 billion in 2008,” said Balakrishnan.

However, leading tour operator E.M. Najeeb told IANS that things are not that rosy this calendar year on account of the global economic downturn.

“Six months into the year, the industry has already seen its business drop by close to 30 percent. The fall in the number of foreign tourists is considerable and the need of the hour is to promote Kerala among domestic tourists,” said Najeeb.

The state tourism department has decided to bring in a huge contingent of tour operators and travel journalists from abroad during the Onam season in September to boost the image of the state.

The peak season in tourism in the state begins in November and goes on till end of March.

Kochi to host exhibition on various hotel and tourism projects

Tuesday, June 30, 2009, 10:00 Hrs [IST]
By HBI Staff | Mumbai

Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Government of Kerala's Department of Industries and Commerce and the Central Bank will organise an exhibition 'Focus Kerala - World Investors Meet' on medium to mega-size projects in Kochi. Non-resident Indians and foreign investors will be invited at the exhibition, which is scheduled to take place from July 24-25, 2009.

Projects in tourism, food processing, infrastructure, information technology, rural retail, media, financial services, education, manufacturing industries and logistics will be showcased. Visitors will get a glimpse about the investment opportunities for home stays and hotels in Trivandrum, farm tourism in Alappuzha, eco tourism and ayurvedic resorts in Malappuram and adventure tourism in Wayanad.

Read complete story >>

Munnar masterplan to be broadened

India Express Buzz
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 1:10 PM IST

Byju Aryad
First Published : 30 Jun 2009 02:58:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 30 Jun 2009 10:07:28 AM IST

KOCHI: Six panchayats surrounding Munnar will be included in the masterplan for the development of Munnar to ensure that the ecological balance will not be disturbed when tourism development spreads to satellite towns.

There are reports that the satellite towns are also being developed as tourist destinations and more tourists are flocking these areas.

Several homestays and resorts have come up at Adimali, Anachal, Chittirapuram and Kallar finding a solution to the lodging problems after the demolition of illegal structures in Munnar.

P Vijayachandran, senior consultant, Consultancy Engineering Services India Pvt Ltd, who was entrusted with the preparation of the masterplan, told Express that a detailed report will be submitted to the Government by the end of August.

Several experts are working on it and the report will be prepared in consultation with all those who are involved in the tourism sector.

The detailed report will be prepared for six panchayats covering 914 sq km.

It will be ensured that the construction work will not disturb the ecosystem and preserve the heritage of the hills, he said.

The possibility of establishing a rope-way rather than widening roads will also be considered in the report.

When more tourists arrive, the pollution rate might increase and there will be suggestions for reducing it in tourist destinations in Idukki.

There will also be suggestions for preserving the National Parks at Munnar. Utmost care have to be taken during construction activities in these areas and the report will elaborate on the specifications for taking up construction activities.

Vijayachandran said that threefourths of the field survey has been completed. Discussions are on with people's representatives and experts and it will be completed before August.

According to Kerala Tourism
(Conservation and Preservation of Areas) Act, 2005, all further development activities in the high influence zone (HIZ) have been banned until a proper masterplan was prepared and approved by the State Government.

Munnar was divided into three zones.

The most-sensitive or the high influence zone falls within a radius of 7 km from the urban core.

It includes the highly endangered areas like Peerumedu, Udumbanchola, Devikulam and others like Pallivasal, Pothamedu, Letchmi and Periavauri. Zone-II or Moderate Influence Zone (MIZ) joins those areas that fall within a radius of 25 km from the boundary of Zone-I. It includes Rajamala, Mattupetty and Chinnakkanal.

No industries will be allowed in the area except agro-based non-polluting ones. Zone-III or Low Influence Zone (LIZ) include areas that are least touched by unbridled development.

NRIs and others invited to invest in Kerala projects.

By VM Sathish on Monday, June 29, 2009

Non-Resident Indians and foreign investors will be invited to take part in medium- to mega-size projects in Kerala at an exhibition next month.

Focus Kerala - World Investors Meet is being organised by the Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Government of Kerala's Department of Industries and Commerce and the Central Bank.

It will take place in Kochi on July 24 and 25.

Many UAE investors are involved in major projects in Kerala and the state is trying to woo NRIs who are planning to relocate to India due to the global economic crisis.

Investment opportunities are being offered in downstream projects linked to a trans-shipment hub being developed by Dubai World and a liquefied natural gas terminal project being developed by Petronas to receive fuel for industrial use in south Indian states.

The International Container Transshipment Terminal at Vellarpadam, Kochi, a proposed major port at Vizhinjam, Trivandrum, and the LNG terminal will offer major opportunities in the import-export business and downstream sectors.

The exhibition will provide an opportunity for NRIs returning home to find investment and employment opportunities in the state. Projects in tourism, food processing, infrastructure, information technology, rural retail, media, financial services, education, manufacturing industries, logistics will be showcased.

"The chamber has identified various projects in the state," NA Mohammed Kutty, Director, told Emirates Business.

"The state is listed as a must-see tourism destination and there are investment opportunities for home stays and hotels in Trivandrum, farm tourism in Alappuzha, eco tourism and ayurvedic resorts in Malappuram and adventure tourism in Wayanad.

Kerala govt’s ‘floating supermarket’ a big hit

Web posted at: 6/28/2009 2:38:57
Source ::: The Peninsula. / By John Mary

Alappuzha: A newly launched floating supermarket is doing brisk business on the Kuttanad backwaters even as scores of houseboats, the mainstay of tourism industry, are idling for want business in Kerala’s southern Alappuzha district.

Floating Triveni (Supermarket), painted in red and white squares, looks like a giant duck, gliding along the lake but on board t are 2,000 items of stationery and provisions. Since its launch on June 7 by Cooperation Minister G Sudhakaran, the mall has been stopping by islands and spots inaccessible by road.

Triveni is open from 8 am to 6 pm, with eight crew on board.

Sudhakaran said the supermarket would cater to more than a million people in Kuttanad. Once this takes off, the mall will also deliver home appliances, for instance washing machine or fridge, for those who place the demand. The boat may also have a computer room, where children can play computer games.

“Homemakers queue up to pick items of choice and are simply thrilled. It’s a novel experience for all of us. The daily collection has been grossing at Rs 30,000. Now there’s no looking back”, says A K Anoop, the mall manager.

He said customers could ring up 9349404400 and book items in advance but it would take a few weeks to get everything streamlined.

Says homemaker Mini Babu, 32: “This is quite welcome. I’ll shop at the floating mall because of the ambience plus prices at a discount”, she said at the Triveni halt near Nedumudi Bridge.

The Kerala State Co-operative Consumers Federation Ltd (Consumerfed), the apex body of consumer cooperatives, which owns the Rs 50-lakh mall, sells provisions at less than market prices. Floating Triveni offers an additional discount of two percent to promote sales. It’s 3 per cent still less for Scheduled Castes and Tribe customers, who should produce ration cards for proof.

Consumerfed hit on the mall concept from the ubiquitous, slender canoes, ferrying men and materials along winding backwaters and canals of Kuttanad. Perhaps, Triveni’s only limitation is its size-16-metre-long and six-metre-wide.

Says Riji R Nair, managing director, Consumerfed: “Initially, when this idea was floated, there was some skepticism. But we were ready to experiment and told the builder that if he could build a platform that could float and remain intact, we would go for it. That’s how the mall on water was born”.

Thiruvananthapuram-based Floatels Hospitalities, promoted by electrical engineer, M R Narayanan, took three years to build the vessel. Unlike other boats made of either wood or steel, this fibre steel-laminated ferro-cement vessel is relatively maintenance-free. It runs on a 40-HP engine but its on-board operations like lighting up and computers are solar-powered. The toilet is eco-friendly.

Twenty people can transact business at a time. At the click of a button, the inventory and sales positions are accessible to Consumerfed officials.

The Cochin University of Science and Technology Architecture Department, which designed, has certified the safety, technology and strength of the vessel.

Considering the uniqueness of Triveni, Consumerfed has approached the Guinness Book of World Records for endorsement.

Triveni is already Consumerfed’s showpiece and the federation plans to replicate this model elsewhere in Kerala. The federation earned a net profit of Rs150m on a turnover of Rs7 bn last year. It has a network of 85 Triveni retail department stores catering to urban areas, 800 Neethi retail outlets in rural areas and 30 Neethi medical stores.

Triveni stores network will spread to all 140 Assembly segments soon.

THE PENINSULA

CII conducts seminar to address about monsoon tourism.

Saturday, June 27, 2009, 14:00 Hrs [IST]
By HBI Staff | Mumbai

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has recently organised a National Seminar on Monsoon Tourism in New Delhi. The main focus of the seminar was to address about the monsoon season, which is traditionally perceived as the lean period for tourism in India and how to beat this 'off' season. Recent times have seen a conscious effort by various state boards to boost this tourism.

In Kerala, the honeymoon segment is being tapped to promote romantic holidays during the monsoons. The state is banking upon the MICE traffic to reduce the gap between season and off-season occupancy rates.

Himachal Pradesh, which was primarily a summer and winter destination has now recognised its potential as a monsoon tourism destination as travellers have discovered the beauty of this scenic destination during the rains. Understanding this trend, the Tourism Board has introduced packages to promote monsoon tourism in the state.

Apart from the travel trade, even non-governmental non-profit organisations like Wayand Tourism Organisation (WTO) are tapping the monsoon tourism segment to promote the region.

Read complete story >>

EXPRESS FEATURES SERVICE.

Posted: Jun 27, 2009 at 0213 hrs IST

It all began in the backwaters of Kerala where Amitabh Kant was secretary, Tourism, and became part of the ad campaign, God’s Own Country, a line that has become synonymous with Kerala ever since. The Incredible India campaign soon followed, changing the face of the tourism sector in the country considerably. “After completing both campaigns, I felt not much was known about how we created Brand India. Since I’ve worked at the state and Central government level, I had some insight into it,” says Kant, who took a year out to write Branding India: An Incredible Story (Collins Business, Rs 499), an account of how this magnificently diverse country was brought together, under the Incredible India umbrella.
Kant, currently posted as principal secretary and special commissioner (Industries), Kerala, writes of how tourism is not just about sightseeing and lounging in hotels. “Tourism involves industries and people, starting from taxi drivers, shopkeepers and chefs. New areas such as rural and medical tourism were created and developed,” says Kant. It took him six months to write the book and he spent another six months fine-tuning it. He is now working on another book where he takes 100 people from various walks of life and explores how tourism has affected their lives.

MICHAEL JACKSON’S FUNERAL

LOS ANGELES, CA – Plans for Michael Jackson’s funeral have been revealed by his estate.

Michael Jackson died on 25th afternoon of a heart attack. People all over the world mourn the loss of the King of Pop. In cities across the globe people gathered in squares and parks with candles in hand to mournfully sing his classics like “Beat It” and “Don’t Stop till You Get Enough.” In Utah the Salt Lake City Boys Choir did an a cappella version of “Billie Jean” that was broadcast on loudspeakers into the city and on Mormon Television Networks.

Representatives of the Jackson estate have released a statement detailing some of the plans for Mr. Jackson’s funeral. In his will Jackson wishes for his body to be cremated and sprinkled over the surface of the moon. However since then his finances have taken a downturn and new plans have had to be created.

A somber and respectful service will be held at an upscale funeral home in Los Angeles. The funeral will be closed casket, with a large picture of Michael from 1982. Seated front row will be Jackson’s ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley, the skeleton of the Elephant Man, Bubbles 4 (the most recent pet monkey to carry the name), and Macaulay Culkin. The remaining members of the Four Tops, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and the Supremes will all perform at the ceremony to pay their respects. Acting as pallbearers will be the Harlem Globetrotters, who made Michael an honorary member in 1978.

President Barack Obama has expressed his sadness at the news of Jackson’s death. In respect he held his press conference on the matter wearing one white glove. Secret Service reports indicate he spent last night drinking scotch and moon-walking through the White House.

Sources within the intelligence community believe that Kim Jong Il may be planning a tribute concert in Pyongyang, wearing a red leather version of his standard jumpsuit. Photographs show Kim Jong Il desperately trying to learn the dance to Thriller.

The closed casket, and other details, have raised some questions. Yesterday afternoon also saw a flurry of strange meteorological activity over the New Mexico desert. When asked, one source working out of Area 51 who wishes to remain anonymous said “Michael? He not dead. He’s just going home.”

Despite his many controversies and eccentricities the world mourns the loss of this unforgettable musical icon.

Obituary: Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson's unique blend of soul, funk and rock made him the biggest pop act in the world.

Beyond this, his business acumen and intuitive understanding of the music market allowed him to showcase his remarkable talents.
Michael Jackson sold records by the million - and broke records too.
With the soulful vocal presence of Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder and the dance moves of James Brown, Jackson's appeal crossed both national and racial boundaries.
His first break came in 1968, when the Jackson Five signed to the Motown label, and he was just 11 when the group released its first single.

Hits like I Want You Back, ABC, The Love You Save, and I'll Be There, which all went to number one in the United States in 1970, made the Jackson Five the first group in pop history to have their first four singles top the charts.
Before long, the youngest member of the Jackson Five was beginning to outstrip his brothers.
A series of solo hits, including Got To Be There, Rockin' Robin and Ben - the maudlin, yet chart-topping, paean to a rat - had shown that the promise of early years had come to fruition.
By the mid-1970s, both Michael's, and his brothers', careers were beginning to stall. Motown has ended its interest in the group, which had re-signed - as the Jacksons - to the Epic label.
But it was while Michael was working on the film musical The Wiz, an all-black retelling of the Wizard of Oz - in which he played the Scarecrow to Diana Ross's Dorothy - that he met the man who would turn him into a superstar and transform the world of popular music.
Music producer, composer and arranger, Quincy Jones, who could already boast a formidable track record, having created hits for artists like Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin and George Benson, took Jackson's raw talent and moulded it into an awesome new sound.
Video extravaganza
Four years later came Thriller, the album which would define his career. A heady mix of disco, R&B and funk, its nine tracks spawned seven hit singles and became the best-selling album of all time, with at least 55 million copies bought to date.
Having already experimented with video on Off The Wall, Jackson now took the new medium to new heights.
The John Landis-directed film, accompanying the album's title track, was a 16-minute big-budget extravaganza, featuring cutting-edge special effects and the voice of veteran horror actor, Vincent Price.
The Thriller video, and its companion, Beat It, also ended MTV's neglect of black artists, while making the mini-musical blockbuster de rigueur for any self-respecting pop star.

Besides his successful solo career, Jackson also recorded a series of hit duets with Paul McCartney, who had written the Off The Wall track, Girlfriend.
The two stars appeared on one another's albums with songs like The Girl Is Mine and the chart-topping Say Say Say.

Stripped-down sound

The relationship soured, though, in 1985, when Jackson outbid both McCartney and Yoko Ono to secure the ATV music-publishing catalogue, which included the rights to more than 250 Lennon/McCartney songs.
Not for the first time, Jackson's ruthless business streak had asserted itself.
The same year also saw the USA For Africa charity single, We Are The World, co-written by Jackson and Lionel Ritchie, reach number one in the US.
The Jackson phenomenon showed no sign of slowing down when, in 1987, he released the third, and final, Quincy Jones-produced album, Bad.

With five number one hits, including Man in the Mirror and Dirty Diana, the album also featured a 17-minute video, courtesy of Martin Scorsese, to promote the title track and a year-long world tour, at the time the largest-grossing in history.
Dangerous, Jackson's 1991 outing, featured a more stripped-down sound than its three predecessors.
But the magic remained, and tracks like Heal the World and Black and White soon became worldwide hits, despite the tabloid headlines and court cases which now threatened to damage the singer's reputation.
But his 1995 album, a compilation of old hits and new material entitled HIStory, failed to ignite the popular imagination.

Controversy

Despite the biggest-ever publicity campaign for an album, estimated at $30m, HIStory enjoyed a brief appearance in the charts.
Whether this was due to the star's increasingly erratic behaviour, continuing speculation about his private life or just the public turning increasingly to rap and hip-hop, is a matter for debate.
But one track, in particular - They Don't Care About Us, with the lyrics, "Jew me, sue me" - outraged many people including Jackson's long-time friend and supporter Steven Spielberg, who saw it as anti-Semitic.
And his appearance at the 1996 Brit Awards ceremony in London, surrounded by children and a rabbi, proved too much for some, most notably Pulp's Jarvis Cocker, who showed his displeasure by storming the stage and interrupting the performance.

Michael Jackson's final album, Invincible (2001) was released at a time when he looked anything but.
A swirl of controversy, including Jackson's repeated assertions that his record company, Sony, had asked for their money back - all $200m of it - and that the label's chairman, Tommy Mottola, held black artists back, effectively drowned out the music.
It seemed an underwhelming end to what had been one of the most spectacular of all musical careers.
In recent years, Jackson was plagued by money problems and shielded himself from public view.
Arrested in 2003 on charges of molesting a 14-year-old boy, he was cleared in June 2005 after a five-month trial.
As rumours of bankruptcy circled after the trial, Jackson moved for a period to the Middle East.
There he befriended the king of Bahrain's son, Sheikh Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, who helped fund Jackson's lavish lifestyle.
But the sheikh later sued Jackson for $7m (£4.7m), saying the star had reneged on a music contract that would have been used to pay back loans. The pair settled out of court last year.
Jackson was due to begin a series of sold-out comeback concerts, starting with an appearance in London next month.
Hundreds of fans queued at the O2 arena as tickets went on sale to the public and more than a quarter of a million people queued online.
In the end, around 750,000 tickets were sold for the 50-date residency - which Jackson had billed his "final curtain call".
Rehearsals for the show were under way when the star suffered a cardiac arrest at his home in Bel Air. He was later pronounced dead at the UCLA medical centre in Los Angeles.

Your memories of the King of Pop

Music legend Michael Jackson has died in Los Angeles, aged 50. What are your memories of the man who came to be known as the King of Pop?

Michael Jackson was rushed to hospital in Los Angeles on Thursday after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest. He was later pronounced dead.

After bursting onto the world stage with his brothers in the Jackson 5, Michael went on to become one of the biggest-selling recording artists of all time.

But the singer was dogged by controversy and money trouble in recent years, becoming a virtual recluse.

He was due to begin a series of comeback concerts at London's O2 arena on 13 July which sold out within minutes of going on sale.

Michael Jackson 'died of a drug overdose', according to reports

By Jody Thompson, Mirror.co.uk 26/06/2009

Michael Jackson died after a heart attack triggered from a cocktail of seven different prescription drugs according to that latest reports coming out of Los Angeles.


The pop superstar, 50, was pronounced dead at 2.36pm local time after falling into a deep coma at his home in Holmby Hills, California.

US celebrity magazine Life & Style says Jacko was hooked on prescription drugs.

A source told them that the star had been popping pills, including anti-anxiety drugs Xanax and Zoloft and painkiller Demerol, for weeks before his death and that an overdose had caused respiratory and cardiac arrest.

The Jackson family lawyer Brian Oxman had already alluded to the involvement of drugs in the singer's death when he likened the pop star's death to that of tragic star Anna Nicole Smith in an interview with CNN.

He also blamed the people who surrounded the star for his death.

He said: "I believe (his manager) Frank DiLeo was with him at the time (of his heart attack), that is what I have been told.

"This family has been trying for months and months and months to take care of Michael Jackson. The people who have surrounded him have been enabling him.

"If you think the case of Anna Nicole Smith was an abuse, that is nothing compared to what has taken place in the life of Michael Jackson.

"I do not know what medications he was taking, but the reports that we have received within the family are that they were extensive.

"I don't know the cause of all this. But this is something that I feared. This is a case of abuse of medications, unless the cause is something else.
"This was something which I feared and something which I warned about. Where there is smoke there is fire."

Autopsy planned after Jackson’s sudden death

‘King of Pop’ had been spending many hours preparing for comeback tour

updated 8:51 a.m. ET June 26, 2009
LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson, defined in equal parts as the world’s greatest entertainer and perhaps its most enigmatic figure, was about to attempt one of the greatest comebacks of all time. Then his life was cut shockingly — and so far, mysteriously — short.

The 50-year-old musical superstar died Thursday, just as he was preparing for what would be a series of 50 concerts starting July 13 at London’s famed 02 arena. Jackson had been spending hours and hours toiling with a team of dancers for a performance he and his fans hoped would restore his tarnished legacy to its proper place in pop.

An autopsy was planned for Friday, though results were not likely to be final until toxicology tests could be completed, a process that could take several days and sometimes weeks. However, if a cause can be determined by the autopsy, they will announce the results, said Los Angeles County Coroner Investigator Jerry McKibben.

Police said they were investigating, standard procedure in high-profile cases.

Jackson died at UCLA Medical Center after being stricken at his rented home in the posh Los Angeles neighborhood of Holmby Hills. Paramedics tried to resuscitate him at his home for nearly three-quarters of an hour, then rushed him to the hospital, where doctors continued to work on him.

“It is believed he suffered cardiac arrest in his home. However, the cause of his death is unknown until results of the autopsy are known,” his brother Jermaine said.

Cardiac arrest is an abnormal heart rhythm that stops the heart from pumping blood to the body. It can occur after a heart attack or be caused by other heart problems.

Jackson’s death brought a tragic end to a long, bizarre, sometimes farcical decline from his peak in the 1980s, when he was popular music’s premier all-around performer, a uniter of black and white music who shattered the race barrier on MTV, dominated the charts and dazzled even more on stage.

His 1982 album “Thriller” — which included the blockbuster hits “Beat It,” “Billie Jean” and “Thriller” — is the best-selling album of all time, with an estimated 50 million copies sold worldwide.

As word of his death spread, MTV switched its programming to play videos from Jackson’s heyday. Radio stations began playing marathons of his hits. Hundreds of people gathered outside the hospital. In New York’s Times Square, a low groan went up in the crowd when a screen flashed that Jackson had died, and people began relaying the news to friends by cell phone.

“No joke. King of Pop is no more. Wow,” Michael Harris, 36, of New York City, read from a text message a friend had sent him. “It’s like when Kennedy was assassinated. I will always remember being in Times Square when Michael Jackson died.”

The public first knew him as a boy in the late 1960s, when he was the precocious, spinning lead singer of the Jackson 5, the singing group he formed with his four older brothers out of Gary, Ind. Among their No. 1 hits were “I Want You Back,” “ABC” and “I’ll Be There.”

He was perhaps the most exciting performer of his generation, known for his backward-gliding moonwalk, his feverish, crotch-grabbing dance moves and his high-pitched singing, punctuated with squeals and titters. His single sequined glove, tight, military-style jacket and aviator sunglasses were trademarks, as was his ever-changing, surgically altered appearance.

“For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don’t have the words,” said Quincy Jones, who produced “Thriller.” “He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I’ve lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him.”

Jackson ranked alongside Elvis Presley and the Beatles as the biggest pop sensations of all time. He united two of music’s biggest names when he was briefly married to Presley’s daughter, Lisa Marie. Jackson’s sudden death immediately evoked comparisons to that of Presley himself, who died at age 42 in 1977.

“I am so very sad and confused with every emotion possible,” Lisa Marie Presley said in a statement. “I am heartbroken for his children who I know were everything to him and for his family. This is such a massive loss on so many levels, words fail me.”

As years went by, Jackson became an increasingly freakish figure — a middle-aged man-child weirdly out of touch with grown-up life. His skin became lighter, his nose narrower, and he spoke in a breathy, girlish voice. He often wore a germ mask while traveling, kept a pet chimpanzee named Bubbles as one of his closest companions and surrounded himself with children at his Neverland ranch, a storybook playland filled with toys, rides and animals. The tabloids dubbed him “Wacko Jacko.”

“It seemed to me that his internal essence was at war with the norms of the world. It’s as if he was trying to defy gravity,” said Michael Levine, a Hollywood publicist who represented Jackson in the early 1990s. He called Jackson a “disciple of P.T. Barnum” and said the star appeared fragile at the time but was “much more cunning and shrewd about the industry than anyone knew.”

Jackson caused a furor in 2002 when he playfully dangled his infant son, Prince Michael II, over a hotel balcony in Berlin while a throng of fans watched from below.

In 2005, he was cleared of charges that he molested a 13-year-old cancer survivor at Neverland in 2003. He had been accused of plying the boy with alcohol and groping him, and of engaging in strange and inappropriate behavior with other children.

The case followed years of rumors about Jackson and young boys. In a TV documentary, he acknowledged sharing his bed with children, a practice he described as sweet and not at all sexual.

Despite the acquittal, the lurid allegations that came out in court took a fearsome toll on his career and image, and he fell into serious financial trouble.

Michael Joseph Jackson was born Aug. 29, 1958, in Gary. He was 4 years old when he began singing with his brothers — Marlon, Jermaine, Jackie and Tito — in the Jackson 5. After his early success with bubblegum soul, he struck out on his own, generating innovative, explosive, unstoppable music.

The album “Thriller” alone mixed the dark, serpentine bass and drums and synthesizer approach of “Billie Jean,” the grinding Eddie Van Halen guitar solo on “Beat It,” and the hiccups and falsettos on “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.”

The peak may have come in 1983, when Motown celebrated its 25th anniversary with an all-star televised concert and Jackson moonwalked off with the show, joining his brothers for a medley of old hits and then leaving them behind with a pointing, crouching, high-kicking, splay-footed, crotch-grabbing run through “Billie Jean.”

The audience stood and roared. Jackson raised his fist.

During production of a 1984 Pepsi commercial, Jackson’s scalp sustains burns when an explosion sets his hair on fire.

He had strong follow-up albums with 1987’s “Bad” and 1991’s “Dangerous,” but his career began to collapse in 1993 after he was accused of molesting a boy who often stayed at his home. The singer denied any wrongdoing, reached a settlement with the boy’s family, reported to be $20 million, and criminal charges were never filed.

Jackson’s expressed anger over the allegations on the 1995 album “HIStory,” which sold more than 2.4 million copies, but by then, the popularity of Jackson’s music was clearly waning even as public fascination with his increasingly erratic behavior was growing.

Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley in 1994, and they divorced in 1996. Later that year, Jackson married Deborah Rowe, a former nurse for his dermatologist. They had two children together: Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., known as Prince Michael, now 12; and Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, 11. Rowe filed for divorce in 1999.

Jackson also had a third child, Prince Michael II. Now 7, Jackson said the boy nicknamed Blanket as a baby was his biological child born from a surrogate mother.

Billboard magazine editorial director Bill Werde said Jackson’s star power was unmatched. “The world just lost the biggest pop star in history, no matter how you cut it,” Werde said. “He’s literally the king of pop.”

Jackson’s 13 No. 1 one hits on the Billboard charts put him behind only Presley, the Beatles and Mariah Carey, Werde said.

“He was on the eve of potentially redeeming his career a little bit,” he said. “People might have started to think of him again in a different light.”

Web slows after Jackson's death

The internet suffered a number of slowdowns as people the world over rushed to verify accounts of Michael Jackson's death.

Search giant Google confirmed to the BBC that when the news first broke it feared it was under attack.

Millions of people who Googled the star's name were greeted with an error page rather than a list of results.

It warned users "your query looks similar to automated requests from a computer virus or spyware application".

"It's true that between approximately 2.40PM Pacific and 3.15PM Pacific, some Google News users experienced difficulty accessing search results for queries related to Michael Jackson and saw the error page," said Google spokesman Gabriel Stricker.

It was around this time that the singer was officially pronounced dead.

Google's trends page showed that searches for Michael Jackson had reached such a volume that in its so called "hotness" gauge the topic was rated "volcanic".

Read More BBC News

King Of Pop Michael Jackson Is Dead Photo Gallery,pictures,stills,pics

Michael Jackson Is Dead body photos,Michael Jackson Is Dead news pictures,Michael Jackson Is Dead body stills,Michael Jackson Is Dead body pics,Michael Jackson Is Dead body images,Michael Jackson Is Dead news pics,Michael Jackson Is Dead news images,Michael Jackson Is Dead news pictures,Michael Jackson Is Dead news photo gallery

King of Pop Michael Jackson has died after a suspected heart attack at home in Los Angeles

The 50-year-old singer was pronounced dead after being taken to hospital in in a deep coma.

Jackson's brother Jermaine said it was believed he suffered a cardiac arrest in his home in Holmby Hills.

"My brother, the legendary King of Pop, passed away on Thursday, June 25, at 2.26pm.

"We believe he suffered a cardiac arrest at his home, however the cause of his death is unknown until the results of the autopsy are known.

"His personal physician, who was with him at the time, attempted to resuscitate my brother, as did the paramedics who transported him to UCLA Medical Centre in Los Angeles.

"On arrival at 1.14pm a team of doctors including emergency physicians and cardiologists attempted to resuscitate him for one hour but they were unsuccessful."

Jackson was pronounced dead at about 1426 local time (2226 British time).

Source : Skynews.com

Kerala government expecting Rs 1000 crore private investment in state’s tourism sector.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009, 18:30 Hrs [IST]
By TBM Staff | Thiruvananthapuram

In a written reply to K M Mani of the Kerala Congress (Mani) and others, Kerala Home and Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan today informed the State Assembly that the government was expecting Rs 1,000 crore private investments this year in the tourism sector in the state. Balakrishnan said the main areas of the private investments would be hotel industry, amusement parks, tours and convention centres. He, however, admitted that the global economic recession had affected the tourism sector, particularly the flow of foreign tourists and revenue from them.

According to statistics of foreign tourists visiting the state during the months between January and March this year, a decrease of 18.86 per cent was noted, compared to the same period last year, he said and added that it was also reflected in the revenue. However, during the same period an estimated 3.21 per cent of increase was noticed in the flow of domestic tourists, as against the previous year. Stating that there was an increase in the number of tourists, both foreign and domestic, the minister said a total of 20,60,737 tourists visited the state between January and March.

Kerala Tourism Minister asks Kumari Selja for central assistance for two mega tourism projects of the state.

BY TBM Staff | New Delhi
In the first meeting with Kumari Selja, Union Minister for Tourism and Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation in New Delhi last week, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Tourism Minister, Kerala asked the Ministry of Tourism to include two important tourism projects of Kerala- Wayanad Tourism Project, and Mussiris Heritage Tourism project – in the Mega Tourism Projects map for central assistance. Balakrishnan also took up several issues concerning the state’s tourism at the meeting.

The Kerala Tourism had submitted a detailed plan for Rs 67.75 crore of Mussiris Heritage Tourism project to the Central government last year and has been awaiting approval. Additionally, the Minister asked Selja to include Wayanad Tourism Plan, an ambitious project to transform the tourism infrastructure of Northern Kerala. In view of the global financial down turn, Balakrishnan also asked for more incentives to home stay owners and tour operators in the country through the upcoming budget.

KTDC launches mobile phone campaign

KOCHI: Aiming to attract domestic tourists to the state, the Kerala Tourism Department has launched a campaign through mobile phones which will be implemented in a phased manner.

The first phase of the campaign, which is also a contest, has been launched with the onset of the monsoon.

The phase I will witness a threemonth ‘Discover Unseen Kerala’ contest on GPRS-enabled mobile phones.

The contest requires users to identify unseen locations featured on the mobsite and also answer questions about Kerala.

The winners will get a fully paid trip to some of the outstanding destinations in the state.

The database of mobile users collected in phase I will be used for phase II.

In the second phase, members of the Kerala Tourism mobile group will get alerts on Kerala Tourism, especially about its new packages.

And when the group grows to a significant size, the members will be encouraged to upload their photos and comments on the Kerala Tourism mobile site.

“The Kerala Tourism Dept is also planning more exposure to existing popular tourist destinations in the state. Mobile phones which have become a potential medium for exchanging multimedia content, has opened new doors for innovative marketing strategy. We will be making use of the best available technology to enhance the popularity of Kerala as a tourist destination,” said V Venu, secretary, Kerala Tourism.

There is also a potential participatory aspect in the new mobile strategy.

The first hand experience of a traveller visiting the state is more authentic than the words in an advertisement brochure.

Despite worries over financial crisis, the domestic tourism sector witnessed 75,91,250 domestic tourists coming to the state, showing a growth of 14.28 percent from the previous year.

December recorded the maximum number (7,50,415) of tourist arrivals in 2008, while the lowest (5,74,544) was in July.

Ayurvedic spas in Kerala hit by drop in tourists

KOCHI: The global economic meltdown is taking its toll on tourist arrivals at Ayurvedic spas across Kerala and the sector is foreseeing at least 30-40 per cent dip in income this monsoon season.

According to Ayurveda experts, monsoon (June-September) is the best season for rejuvenation therapy as the atmosphere remains dust-free, cool, opening the pores of the body to the maximum, making it most receptive to herbal oils and massage.

Dr R Rajesh, senior Ayurvedic physician of Kochi-based Softouch Health Care, which provides Ayurvedic physicians and trained therapists to well-known hotels in Kerala including those of Kerala Tourism Development Corporation, said the number of tourists who come for wellness treatment at the Ayurvedic centres in the hotels has declined. He said Softouch used to get regular guests from Germany, Switzerland, US and Russia but the number has reduced following the economic recession.

“Now guests go for hard bargaining on treatments,'' he said. However, there was no dip in numbers of chronic patients coming for the traditional Ayurvedic treatment offered by Coimbatore-based Arya Vaidya Pharmacy (AVP) and Kottakal Arya Vaidya Sala (AV S) at the respective treatment centres and hospitals, AVP Managing Director Dr P R Krishna Kumar said.

Due to dwindling number of visitors, many spas and treatment centres which had sprung up overnight and had been charging heavily for treatment, have started closing down, Kumar said. - PTI

Absence of time-bound mechanism plaguing manufacturing sect

Express News Service
First Published : 20 Jun 2009 01:38:00 AM IST
Last Updated :

KOCHI: The absence of a time-bound mechanism in planning and implementing projects is plaguing the manufacturing sector across the State, M P Sukumaran Nair, Special Secretary to the Chief Minister, said here on Friday.

He was speaking at an event organised by the Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in connection with the Focus Kerala Investors Meet, scheduled to be held here in July.

Nair said that the delay in implementing projects could be checked by setting up a competent project monitoring cell, with the active participation of players in the private sector. Efforts towards constituting a framework for the cell will be followed up during the investors meet, he added.

The convention is also proposed to explore possibilities of increasing investor awareness on relatively untapped sectors such as biotechnology.

"The focus has to be on innovation, blending the best of modernity and tradition. For instance, in a sector like the perfume industry, Kerala has immense potential in innovating products that can match global standards," Nair said. Public outcry against projects that require vast stretches of land is another hurdle in implementing projects in the State.

Potential investors are also dreading the possibilities of public outrage resulting in termination of projects.

The need of the hour is to make the process of land acquisition transparent and in turn, win the people's confidence and assure investors that the State has an investor- friendly climate, Nair said.

According to him, the convention will also set the ball rolling on IT projects that cover segments other than BPO and transcriptiondriven sectors.

"By integrating hardware sectors, we can also look at setting up integrated IT parks. By creating convention centres that cater to global corporate needs, we can also tap the possibilities of tourism sector," he said.

Kerala beaches to get Rs 72cr facelift.

Shahani Fatima / Chennai June 19, 2009, 0:52 IST

With the International tourism season starting in Kerala from September, the state tourism department is lining up an investment of Rs 72 crore to give a facelift to one of its prime natural assets – beaches.

The renovation – proposed under a project christened ‘Ente Theeram’ (my shore) – will include new walkways, anti-littering measures, landscaping, police aid posts and illumination at important beaches of the state. The project, funds for which were allocated under the tsunami rehabilitation programme by the Centre, is expected to be completed by October.

According to M Sivasankar, director, Kerala Tourism, the 575-kilometre-long coastal line of Kerala provides ample tourism opportunities and the beaches need to be revamped as well as protected to promote the premium brand.

“Apart from the infrastructural renovation, an artificial reef, a first-of-its-kind for the Indian beaches, will be constructed in Kovalam with an outlay of Rs 15 crore to prevent coastal soil erosion,” he added. With the artificial reef in place, the Kovalam beach will also turn into a hot spot for surfing and other water sports.

Beach tourism is an important sector of Kerala’s tourism. According to its district-wise tourism statistics, four of the five top-visited districts in the state last year were the coastal districts. “The state expects a growth of 8 to 10 per cent in tourist inflow this year,” Sivasankar said.

Apart from beach renovation, Kerala Tourism will also invest around Rs 30 crore in destination development. Popular destinations in the state have already been identified and funds were allocated through the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC).

Now, Kerala featured in Vogue UK issue.

Thiruvananthapuram,DH News Service:
Friday, June 19, 2009

After hitting the big time in international travel and tourism magazines for over two decades, Kerala has now been splashed over 20 pages of the recent issue of Vogue UK

The state’s famed locales come alive in a feature titled “Indian Summer’’ with Polish-born Canadian-Ukrainian model Daria Werbowy showcasing the season’s cotton designs.
Master photographer Patrick Demarchelier catches the State’s lovely elements of warm, spice-infused colours as Daria poses in white cotton fabric.

The backdrops include Kochi’s Chinese fishing nets on a driftwood jetty, a traditional houseboat and Malayalee women in colourful saris in a paddy field.

School children from St Michael’s Higher Secondary School at Vaikom, some 50 from Kochi, also appear in a double spread, with their own fashion statement and take on effortless dressing.

The latest Vogue magazine issue gives some cause of excitement for the recession-hit tourism industry in a state proclaimed as one of the “ten paradises of the world” and “50 places of a lifetime” by the National Geographic Traveler magazine.

French photographer Demarchelier is most known for his photo shoot of superstar Janet Jackson which appeared on the cover of Rolling Stones magazine and The Janet album. He is also mentioned in the film, The Devil Wears Prada, and made a cameo in the film version of Sex and the City.

Largest tourism market

The United Kingdom was Kerala’s largest tourism market with 141,147 tourist arrivals from the country in 2008 –– a 23.5 per cent market share of total international arrivals to the state.

In all, 598,929 foreign tourists visited Kerala in 2008 which saw foreign exchange earnings from tourism grow by 16.11 per cent.

The net revenue, comprising both direct and indirect showed an increase of 14.84 per cent touching Rs 13,130 crore. Kerala Tourism has announced Visit Kerala Year 2009 to forestall any fall in tourist arrivals owing to the downturn.

Growing at a rate of 13.31 per cent, the tourism industry is a major contributor to the state’s economy.

Kerala in Vogue this summer.

Web posted at: 6/18/2009 6:59:49
Source ::: THE PENINSULA/ By John Mary

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s humid summer months are best savoured under a shade in the open or at hill stations. But the fashion crew of the style magazine, Vogue UK, saw the season unfolding at its kaleidoscopic best this summer.

Already proclaimed one of the “ten paradises of the world” and “50 places of a lifetime” by the National Geographic Traveler magazine, Kerala is all over on 20 pages in the June issue of Vogue UK.

Vogue’s team took the spice route to Kerala for the ‘Indian Summer’ shoot, setting the backwaters and paddy fields as perfect locations for the season’s white cotton designs.

Vignettes of the 25-year-old Polish-born Canadian-Ukrainian model, Daria Werbowy, wearing white cotton, have been captured by French master photographer Patrick Demarchelier against the quintessential Kerala backdrops.

The shoot plays up to exotic elements of warm, spice-infused colours in a laidback style. Daria poses in locales including the whimsical fishing nets on a driftwood jetty, a traditional houseboat voyage and with Malayalee women in colourful saris in a paddy field.

Local school children from St Michael’s Higher Secondary School at Vaikom, some 50 from Kochi, also appear in a double spread, with their own fashion statement and take on effortless dressing.

Kerala Tourism Secretary Venu V said Demarchelier had truly done justice to the beauty and majesty of the land. “It’s the same sheen of importance that a person taking a vacation photo feels chronicling themselves in a foreign place or chronicling themselves next to a celebrity”.

Vogue is reckoned the world’s most important and influential style magazine, published in 21 countries. Vogue UK is published 10 times a year and has a readership of 1 million.

Demarchelier is most known for his photo shoot of superstar Janet Jackson which appeared on the cover of Rolling Stones magazine and The Janet album. He is also referenced in the film, The Devil Wears Prada, and made a cameo in the film version of Sex and the City.

The UK was Kerala’s largest source market with 141,147 tourist arrivals from the country in 2008-a 23.5 percent market share of total international arrivals to Kerala. A total 598,929 foreign tourists visited Kerala in 2008.

Kerala Tourism has announced Visit Kerala Year 2009 to forestall any fall in visitors owing to the financial downturn. Growing at a rate of 13.31 percent, the tourism industry is a major contributor to the State’s economy.

Kerala Tourism Director M Sivasankar said the last five years growth averaged at 20 percent.

Kerala Principal Industry Secretary and Commissioner Amitabh Kant, who recently released his book, ‘Branding India-An Incredible Journey’, reviewing the strategic growth of tourism in the country, said the success of Kerala rested on the State’s proactive role as a facilitator in the past two decades and the growth of home-grown entrepreneurs.

Kerala was developed into a super brand, making it stand out among 200-odd international destinations, with its backwaters and traditional ayurveda, conforming to the concept of experiential tourism, based on local themes and experiences, said Kant.

But he admitted that the biggest disincentive to future growth was the problem of untreated solid waste and sewage that simply could not coexist with the hoary heritage of the State. But 2008 turned out to be an impressive one for Kerala Tourism. The foreign exchange earnings from tourism in 2008 grew by 16.11 percent, fetching earnings to the tune of Rs3,066 crore. And the net revenue, comprising both direct and indirect showed an increase of 14.84 percent, which translates to Rs13,130 crore.

Lamenting the loss of Kovalam.

India Express Buzz
Thursday, June 18, 2009 11:14 AM IST
Express News Service
First Published : 18 Jun 2009 01:56:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 18 Jun 2009 08:44:08 AM IST

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: “We must not repeat the mistakes committed in Kovalam. All tourism destinations have a certain carrying capacity. We must ensure that tourism growth does not go beyond the boundaries set by the carrying capacity. You cannot have unbridled growth.’’

The observation was made by no less a person than Amitabh Kant, the man who inspired a zillion exclamation marks all over the world by way of the ‘Incredible !ndia’ campaigns and, more significantly, the former Tourism Secretary who is credited with successfully pitching the ‘God’s Own Country’ slogan globally.

Amitabh Kant, in effect, was admitting that tourism had spun out of control in Kovalam. Kant was interacting with the media on Wednesday as part of the promotion of his book ‘Branding India: An Incredible Story’, his debut work as an author.

Kant’s observation came in response to a question about the teething troubles faced by the Responsible Tourism (RT) Movement in the State, especially in Kovalam. Though it has been three years, RT has failed to take off in Kovalam, or for that matter in Munnar and Wayanad too. He was asked why.

Kant tried to fend off the question. “It is not fair on my part to sit in judgment of what is happening in Kerala at the moment,’’ he said.

And then he spoke about the steps taken during his tenure to check the wild and crazy concretisation of a once virgin beach destination. “We had introduced a Bill to conserve and preserve tourism spots. The Bill had called for the conduct of carrying capacity studies,’’ Kant said. He, however, did not mention the obvious; that nothing had come of it.

Amitabh Kant was one bureaucrat who had tried to stem the rot in Kovalam that was visible even a decade ago in 1998, the year he took over as Tourism Secretary. “Back then, Kovalam was the only product Kerala Tourism had. There was a mass inflow of low-value tourists. Charters full of cobblers and garbage collectors arrived from Manchester and other English cities. If they spent 10 pounds a night, they used to take away 100 pounds worth of sun, sand and sea. It was necessary to change the emphasis from high-mass low-value tourists to low-mass high-value tourists,’’ Amitabh Kant said.

Kant was told that there was no sea change in the situation. He was told that during the last year when the high-mass low-value charters cancelled operations, there was not a single hotel in Kovalam that recorded over 80 percent, leave alone 100, room occupancy during the peak tourism season.

(Normally, a 100 percent occupancy is a given during the peak season.) In short, Kovalam continued to depend on mass tourism. The unceasing, forever proliferating, issue of garbage is perhaps a fallout of this.

“The shift to discerning travellers from backpackers will be very painful in the short run. But, in the long run, it will pay rich dividends,’’ Amitabh Kant said.

The top bureaucrat, currently Principal Secretary and Commissioner in charge of Kerala affairs in Delhi, was also instrumental in shifting the limelight from Kovalam to Ayurveda and the backwaters. It was also an attempt, on hindsight an unsuccessful one, to ease the pressure on Kovalam.

Four reasons that scripted a success story.

Express News Service
First Published : 18 Jun 2009 08:20:49 AM IST


THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Here are four reasons, picked by former Tourism Secretary Amitabh Kant, that has made Kerala Tourism a success story. The vision of CPI ministers, the entrepreneurial spirit of Keralites, the presence of three airports and the long periods of service offered to civil servants in the Tourism Department.

Amitabh Kant, currently Principal Secretary and Special Commissioner in charge of Kerala in Delhi, was interacting with the media on Wednesday as part of the promotion of his book `Branding India: An Incredible Story’, his debut as an author.

`I have not worked with P S Sreenivasan when he was the Tourism Minister. But my predecessors speak very high of him. I have worked with E Chandrasekharan Nair and have found him to be a visionary. Both these ministers were clear about what they wanted and let their officials do their job,’’ Amitabh Kant said. Both these CPI ministers also gave civil servants extended terms in the Tourism Department. ``My predecessors K Jayakumar and T Balakrishnan, then myself and now Venu have got long periods in the Department. In other states, say Uttar Pradesh or Gujarat, a civil servant gets on an average three months in a particular post,’’ Kant said.

The presence of three airports was the other big boon for the state.

`There was the Thiruvanathapuram airport. Then, thanks to the initiative of V J Kurien, the airport at Kochi happened. And when I was Kozhikode Collector, Karipur airport was opened,’’ the bureaucrat said.
But it was the ``entrepreneurial spirit’’ of the Keralites that came in for the highest praise from the Kerala cadre officer who hails from Uttar Pradesh. He even attributed the success of the `God’s Own Country’ slogan to this spirit.

`You cannot call Kerala the God’s own country and then offer an experience worthy of hell. It was a set of daring and innovative entrepreneurs who bridged the gap between the `God’s Own Country’ myth and the situation on the ground. The slogan could not have passed the test of time had it not been for them,’’ Amitabh Kant said. Kant was referring to people who were smart enough to spot an opportunity and set up tree houses, houseboats and budget hotels.

He profiles some of these people in his book `Branding India: An Incredible Story’. `This flavour of entrepreneurship is not something I have seen anywhere else in the country,’’ added Kant, who was also Joint Director in charge of India Tourism.

According to Amitabh Kant, tourism brought Kerala back to its roots.

Woman and foreigner? Don’t dare bare legs in Gujarat!

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat proudly flaunts its ‘safe’ tag. But, the government is not very sure if foreign tourists, especially women, are safe here. It
admits even wearing sleeveless tops; tight-fitting clothes and heavy jewellery may invite trouble. And, travelling alone is a strict no-no.

The official website of the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited (TCGL) carries a travel advisory that would leave any tourist apprehensive. If it has put up a host of do’s and dont’s for women tourists, the website also cautions gays and lesbians. And, it virtually admits that liquor is sold illegally in ‘dry’ Gujarat.

“If you hold a foreign passport, you are allowed a liquor permit and you can buy liquor from certain establishments authorised to sell liquor to foreigners. But, avoid getting yourself in trouble by buying alcohol from locals,” says the site. TCGL has even sent a project report to the state home department on deployment of tourist police on the lines of states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Himachal Pradesh.

The report also includes plans for special tourist police stations. Gujarat director general of police SS Khandwawala, however, feels “there is no need for tourism police because the law and order situation is not alarming. Besides, he says, a majority of foreigners coming to Gujarat are here for business.

Tourists throng Himachal as Kashmir sees protests.

Shimla, June 16 (IANS) One hill state’s loss has been another’s gain. With Jammu and Kashmir witnessing unrest over the alleged rape and murder of two women, neighbouring Himachal Pradesh has seen a sudden surge in tourist footfalls.

Tourism industry representatives are expecting an increase of 25 to 30 percent in the arrival of tourists this month, particularly in hill stations like Manali, Shimla and Dharamsala.

According to the state tourism department, information centres and hotels across the state are getting 20 to 25 enquiries daily from those who cancelled their bookings in Jammu and Kashmir after protests there since the beginning of this month over the alleged rape and murder of two women in Shopian.

Thomas Philip, a tourist from Kerala, said: “The protests in Srinagar had spoilt our plans to visit there. Due to the fear of getting stuck there, we cancelled our bookings and decided to enjoy the cool climes of Manali.”

Travel operators too attribute the sudden surge in tourists, mainly to the protests in Kashmir Valley.

“The tourism sector in the hill state has got a major fillip after escalation of protests in the Kashmir Valley in the last few days,” Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corp (HPTDC) general manager Yogesh Behl told IANS.

“Since Himachal is a peaceful state, a sudden escalation of unrest or militant activities in trouble-torn Jammu and Kashmir helps our hospitality industry. Most tourists, especially from Rajasthan and Maharashtra, have cancelled their bookings there and are now looking for popular spots in the Himachal hills,” he added.

The HPTDC’s hotels in Shimla, Manali and Dalhousie, apart from a host of other locations, are almost jampacked.

Manali-based tour and travel operator Anil Sharma said: “We are experiencing about a 25-30 percent increase in tourists this month as compared to previous years due to unrest in the neighbouring state.”

According to Sharma, any escalation of tension in the Valley leads to a spontaneous increase of tourists in Himachal Pradesh.

“Most of the tourists are bound for Vaishno Devi in Jammu. In case of volatile situations in the Valley, tourists prefer Dharamsala, Chamba, Dalhousie and Manali as these are located close to Jammu,” he added.

Himachal tourism secretary Manisha Nanda is optimistic about a good tourist season this time.

“We are expecting a good season as the arrival of tourists is increasing each day. In monetary terms, the state is hoping to bag an additional revenue of approximately Rs.2.5-3 million due to cancellation of bookings in Kashmir,” she said.

According to the state tourism department, this month every weekend Shimla and Manali are getting 40,000 to 50,000 tourists on an average.

The number of tourist arrivals Himachal Pradesh last year was well above the state’s population of about 6.5 million. The state attracted 9.37 million domestic and 367,000 foreign tourists. Kullu and Manali are the hotspots for tourists, followed by Shimla and Dharamsala.

India's incredible journey from holiday backwater to the destination du jour.

From The Times
June 15, 2009
Rhys Blakely

As a sales pitch for a holiday paradise, you would think it left much to be desired. “We have hoardings obscuring heritage sites, we have terrible roads, we have sewage and solid waste problems. And we have some of the lousiest airports in the world.”

But Amitabh Kant's blunt critique of his homeland's shortcomings is part of an approach that has earned glowing reviews from some of the tourism industry's fussiest arbiters - picky Western travel writers. When he is not deploring the state of Indian public toilets, the dapper civil servant, who in 2001 was handed the job of rescuing India's sinking tourism industry, likes to measure his success by counting the billions of dollars that he has helped to add to the country's foreign currency reserves by luring upmarket travellers to the lush backwaters of Kerala and the grand palaces of Rajasthan.

In industry circles, he is treated as something of a guru. The day before talking to The Times, Mr Kant had been the guest of honour at a lavish Mumbai reception hosted by Ratan Tata, India's most-fêted businessman. The event recognised Mr Kant's standing as a global doyen of the fiendishly tricky art of “national branding”, a status he achieved by masterminding the successful “Incredible India” campaign, the country's first co-ordinated effort to market itself under a single banner.

But not even a man of Mr Kant's talents can control world events. None has been more horrific than the terror attack on Mumbai last November, in which 166 people were murdered by a group of ten gunmen who deliberately sought to kill Western visitors to India's financial capital.

Heritage zone gets a folklore theatre.

Express News Service
First Published : 13 Jun 2009 11:33:00 PM IST
Last Updated : 13 Jun 2009 10:33:23 AM IST

KOCHI: The heritage zone has added a new feather to its cap - a theatre of Kerala folklore. The theatre at Fort Kochi, an initiative of the Department of Tourism, will be opened by Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on Saturday.

Geethopadesam kathakali by artists from Kalamandalam will be the first programme staged at the theatre.

It is part of the Tourism Departments efforts to revive folk art forms. There will be programmes every day at 6 pm. Kathakali, mohiniyattam, kalaripayattu, ottamthullal, chakyarkoothu and nangyarkooth will be performed here.

“We have the assistance of Kalamandalam for conducting programmes. Other cultural centres will be given the opportunity to perform here. Videos on art forms of Kerala will be exhibited at the theatre.

Booking facility is available round the clock,’’ said District Collector M Beena.

The air-conditioned theatre has a seating capacity of 70 and a digital sound system. The theatre building is designed on the model of a traditional Kerala style inner courtyard where family members and relatives gather to watch kathakali.

Padippura, charupadi, half-wall and wooden walls have been replicated. The theatre, designed by Jabin L Zakkariyas, was constructed at a cost of Rs 23 lakh.

New CMZ may rock boat for State tourism

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI, JUNE 11
With the Coastal Management Zone notification deadline lapsing on June 21, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests is all set to bring in a new notification, with just a few changes from the old one. Sources say that in States like Goa and Kerala, which are dependent on tourism, this may not be good news.
The decision follows the suggestions of the Standing Committee on Coastal Management Programmes that the government should keep in abeyance the implementation of the Coastal Management Zone (CMZ) notification of 2008, until executive and legislative mechanisms are put in place for inclusion and integration of coastal communities through participative, decision-making and control mechanisms. The committee is headed by Dr V Maitreyan.
Kerala had strongly opposed the CMZ draft notification, as it could have brought the whole State under CMZ-II. Most of the feedback from the State objected to the lack of a say for local communities and stakeholders in the coastal zone.
“The government should not be hasty in implementing the CMZ without addressing the conflict of interest between the stakeholders – mainly fisherfolk and coastal communities – and all efforts must be made first to meet their concerns,” said the Standing Committee in its report on Coastal Management Programmes tabled in parliament on Monday. “Their concerns were ‘not unfounded,’ and must be met through education, social mobilisation and active participation in decision making.”
The report noted that almost everyone told the panel that the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) notification issued in 1991 is better as it had succeeded in containing pollution and encroachment along the coastal areas. The panel said the apprehension about the CMZ notification was that it encourages industrial activities along the coasts in the garb of management methodologies.
However, the announcement by Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh that a new notification will be issued by July 16 is a cause for great caution. According to sources, it is aimed at neutralising the effect of cases filed by coastal groups against the CMZ coming up for hearing in the Mumbai High Court on July 15 and 16.
There is enough to be apprehensive about the new notification proposed by the environment minister. According to activists and legal experts, the new document could be favourable to beach resorts, the hospitality industry and private buildings, while industries could be given the red signal.
In States like Goa and Kerala, which are largely dependent on the tourism sector, this is not good news. Whether the recommendations of the panel suggestion that CMZ should rather be specifically designed for different States
keeping in mind the diverse coastal environments and specific cultures of coastal communities will be heard remains to be seen.
The report also said that State governments should have enough participation in formulating the Integrated Coastal Management Plan prepared for coastal management in their States.

After US advisory, India asserts it’s completely safe (Second Lead)

New Delhi, June 4 (IANS) India Thursday asserted that it was “completely safe” and would ensure security for foreign tourists, after the US warned its citizens of the threat of terrorism throughout the country.

Home Minister P. Chidambaram said: “India is a completely safe country. India is a safe place, it is safer than any other country in the world. Thousands of tourists come to India and we look forward to welcoming them.”

He reacted after the US embassy posted a message urging its citizens living in or travelling to India to practise good security, including maintaining a heightened situational awareness and low profile. It said terror attacks were a serious and growing threat.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony, whose home state Kerala is a hot favourite with tourists, said: “India is the safest country.”

Minister of State for Tourism Sultan Ahmed said at a function here: “We will ensure the security of our foreign guests. A lot of internal and external security measures (are being taken) for the safety of tourists.”

Ahmed said although after the Mumbai terror attack of Nov 26 in which over 170 people were killed, the number of tourists coming to India had fallen, it was now slowly going up.

“Ever since the Mumbai blasts the number of tourists visiting India had decreased. But since May this year the numbers have started going up,” he told reporters.

About 5.08 million tourists visited India in 2007, recording a growth of 14.56 percent. But since January, there has been a fall in numbers. There was a 17.6 percent dip recorded that month with 487,262 foreign tourists coming to the country.

However, in April, some improvement was witnessed with 370,756 tourists visiting India - a dip of just 3.5 percent.

The US advisory posted on the website Tuesday specifically asked Americans in India to be vigilant at all times, monitor local news reports and vary their routes and times while carrying out daily activities.

“Americans should consider the level of security present when visiting public places, including religious sites, or choosing hotels, restaurants, entertainment and recreation venues,” the advisory warned.

“As terror attacks are a serious and growing threat, US citizens are urged to always practice good security, including maintaining a heightened situational awareness and a low profile.

“The media attention of and public reaction to the Mumbai attack could prompt other terrorist incidents. Future attacks may also target public places frequented by Westerners, including in large cities and tourist areas such as Goa.

“The US mission is concerned that increased political tension between Pakistan and India may further complicate travel in areas near their already-sensitive border.

“In addition, the Department of Defense has increased its security requirements for all its employees visiting India.”

Chidambaram said the ministry of external affairs would be asked to speak to the US about the matter.

A US embassy official told IANS that the advisory was routine. “This is a routine advisory and it has just been updated,” he said.

Secretary Tourism Sujit Banerjee said the advisory is not of a “serious” nature. “The ministry of external affairs and the home ministry is talking to them on this issue.”

Kerala woos tourists to experience magic of monsoon.

Kochi (PTI): Casting a spell of monsoon magic of of Kerala, tourism industry in the state is beckoning visitors with a plethora of packages to savour the delight of rainy reason in all its splendour.

As the God's Own Country waits to be soaked in rain during the south-west monsoon, players in the industry have begun their aggressive marketing of monsoon.

Highlighting the enchanting aspects of the monsoon, the Wayanad Tourism Orgnasation (WTO) has launched a new product called 'Splash' eyeing tourists who love the rains.

WTO General Secretary, K R Vancheeswaran said that the aim is to make"Splash' an annual 9 day affair.

The July 3-11 the event comprises a mix of indoor and outdoor activities. Country rafting, paddy transplantation, ploughing, crab catching, elephant ride, treasure hunt, slush football and biking in the wet weather are some of the programmes on the anvil, he said.

Besides the tourists will also get a feel of Kerala's rich culture, its varied dance forms like Mohiniattam', 'Kathakali' "Theyyans" and also tribal dances.

The visitors will also get a taste of the local cuisine.

Monsoon is the apt time for Ayurveda treatments and it is being offered to visitors longing for rejuvenation, he said.

Wayanad Tourism marketing initiative

KOCHI: As God's Own Country waits to be soaked in rain, players in the tourism industry are trying to beckon visitors with a plethora of packages to enjoy the monsoon season.

Highlighting the enchanting aspects of the monsoon, the Wayanad Tourism Organisation (WTO) has launched 'Splash' with an eye on tourists who love rains.

WTO General Secretary, Mr K R Vancheeswaran told PTI that the aim is to make 'Splash' an annual nine-day affair.

The July 3-11 the event comprises a mix of indoor and outdoor activities. Country rafting, paddy transplantation, ploughing, crab catching, elephant ride, treasure hunt, slush football and biking in the wet weather are some of the programmes on the anvil , he said.

Besides, he said, the tourists will also get a feel of Kerala's rich culture, its varied dance forms like Mohiniattam, Kathakali, Theyyans and also tribal dances.

The visitors will also get a taste of the local cuisine.

Monsoon is also the apt time for Ayurveda treatments and it is being offered to visitors longing for rejuvenation.

Mr Francis Paul Kandamkulathy, Managing Director of Indian Voyagers Private Ltd, said they have already started Ayurveda tourism during this season.

The bookings are mainly from domestic tourists from Delhi, Hyderabad and Chennai.

Rejuvenation packages and Panchakarma treatment are all on offer to the tourists, who are mainly IT professionals, craving for relief from stress. - PTI

Good response from domestic tourists.

Byju AryadFirst
Published : 02 Jun 2009 12:26:00 AM

KOCHI: Monsoon tourism, the off-season promotion of tourism in Kerala, is showing positive signs with more domestic tourists responding to it.

The off-season tourism started last year and had tremendous impact on the tourism sector with the industry running for the whole year.

After recession, the tourism industry is slowly picking up and the monsoon is likely to bring in more tourists to the hill and forest areas.

Tomy Pulikkattil of Pulikkattil Group said that enquiries have started pouring in on the safety aspects of backwater tourism during monsoon.

This year it is expected that there will be 50 percent less business for houseboats in Kerala.

If there is no steady rains, the monsoon tourism will be a big flop. A package tour for enjoying the rain in backwaters, forests and even in the rough sea during this season can attract more tourists.

There are even rare species of plants which flower during the rains. The government should take more initiatives in promoting off-season tourism so that there will be business round-the-year, Pulikkattil added.

Wayanad Tourism Organisation (WTO) secretary Vancheeswaran said that the organisation had aggressively started promoting tourism in the hilly areas.

There is tremendous response from domestic tourists, who want to enjoy the rain in Kerala.

“The positive aspects of rain should be promoted rather than offering discount for monsoon tourism.

Attractive programmes should be added to the package and it should be ensured to tourists that more things can be done during rain,” he added.

Monsoon tourism can be a big hit only if the tourist enjoying the rain in Kerala does not forget the experience whenever he sees or feels the rain.

For ensuring this, the customer should get the value for his money and the Wayanad Carnival scheduled from June 3 to 11 will be the first of its kind to attract tourists to Kerala, Vancheeswaran said.

Tourism Director N Sivasankar is of the view that the tourist flow during the dream season, April to October, will be more.

The State Government has started massive campaign targeting the domestic tourists this season.

Meet the monsoons in Kerala

Priya Ramakrishnan
Sunday, May 31, 2009 23:10 IST


Mumbai : Kerala, known as God's own country, has a reason to cheer during the times of
recession. The state which receives the first monsoon showers is beckoning tourists who are hopeful of catching the south-west monsoon before it hits the city.

According to local travel agents, an increase in bookings for Kerala has been noticed in recent times.

"We had several tourist bookings to visit Kerala to see the first monsoon showers. The state is usually seen as a honeymoon destination, but recently tourists visit with their family to witness the onset of monsoons," said Ajay Mistry, a travel agent in Andheri.

The Kerala tourism has also seen a rise in the number of domestic tourists arriving in the state. According to Kerala tourism board, compared to 2007, a growth of 14% has been witnessed in the domestic tourists market. Nearly 75,91,000 domestic tourists visited the state in 2008. "The popular attractions are houseboats in the backwaters, Munnar and Kovalam," explained Mistry.

Sangita Semwal, a Bandra resident, is heading to the coastal state. "As there were a few weeks left for my son's school to reopen, we decided to head to Kerala. We decided on the last week of May so that we could meet the monsoons before it came to the city," she said.

Travel agents added that local hill stations such as Mahabaleshwar and Bhandardara also get many visitors during the rains. "However, its best to visit in the beginning of monsoons as there is heavy rainfall in July and August," said Vilas Shingare, proprietor of Getaway Travels, Kanjurmarg.