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The state Tourism Minister Shri P. A. Mohamed Riyas has launched the website of the Tourism Club, www.tourismclubkerala.org. He called the youngsters the brand ambassadors of Kerala tourism, and added that campus tourism clubs set up to promote youth participation in the tourism sector have a significant role in creating a tourism culture in Kerala to tap the global potential of this vital sector.
“This unique initiative will also help foster the professional skills of the youth for taking up job opportunities generated by the tourism sector,” the minister said.
Shri Riyas said that the ‘Kerala Story’ of warm hospitality, communal harmony and secular mindset are key facets that draw tourists to Kerala, and place the state firmly on the world tourism map.
He said that tourism clubs have ensured the active participation of students with skill and professional potential, thus stimulating the development of tourism across the state.
Tourism Clubs have been launched at Akkulam Tourist Village on an experimental basis.
The minister praised the club members for giving a facelift to the popular tourist centre through activities like decking up the walls with beautiful paintings, repairing lamps and doing necessary electrification. Shri Riyas also recalled the role of Tourism Clubs in successfully conducting Onam celebrations at the state- and district levels.
"In some countries, Keralite expatriates are actively engaged in promoting the immense possibilities of Kerala Tourism through Tourism Clubs. The Department of Tourism has planned to bolster its interventions in order to expand the activities of Tourism Clubs," he said.
Shri Riyas said that through the website colleges of all categories can apply for permission to establish Tourism Clubs and hoped each college would take up the responsibility of maintaining tourism centres in a time-bound manner.
At present, 382 colleges have Tourism Clubs and there are around 18,000 members in total.
Shri Riyas gave away prizes to the winners of the Tourism Club Reels Contest, conducted by Kerala Tourism as part of World Tourism Day celebrations. Shri Aslin N. (Kozhikode) and Shri Vaisakh A. L. (Thiruvananthapuram) received the first and the second prizes respectively.
The Tourism Director Shri P. B. Nooh, in his welcome address, said unlike other forums, Tourism Clubs will help students find a career and develop their innate skills.
Kerala Tourism Additional Director Shri Prem Krishnan S. proposed the vote of thanks. Tourism Clubs aim at tapping the potential of the youth in the upkeep of tourism centres and encourage them to ideate themes for the development of tourism in the state, he said.
