Wednesday 11 November 2015

KERALA - THE PERFECT HEALTH HUB

Kumaar Holidays
No. 42, Chowdary Nagar Main Road,
Valasaravakkam, Chennai-87
Cell: 96000 76933
E-mail: kumaarholidays@gmail.com




Kerala will emerge as the perfect destination for health tourism in the world as it has many advantages like trained personnel, infrastructure and English-speaking medical staff, a top official said.

State Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson said Kerala held out advantages like well-trained practitioners, English-speaking medical staff, infrastructure in the form of super-specialty hospitals, a mix of modern and alternative treatment systems, affordable cost and low waiting times.


"I believe that by promoting medical value travel in Kerala, with the right thrust from all quarters, the health tourism industry in Kerala can boom to become the global leader," Mr Thomson said while inaugurating the fifth edition of 'Kerala Health Tourism', an international conference and exhibition on the sector.

Noting that medical tourism sector in the country was expected to grow from the current USD 3 billion to USD 7-8 billion by 2020, Thomson said the state government would come up with an integrated strategy for building up the sector.

"Health tourism has evolved from a concept to a much in demand reality whereby foreign nationals are now looking at Kerala to receive medical care and attention. Gone are the days when one had to travel abroad to receive quality healthcare and treatment," he said.

He called upon all stakeholders -- healthcare practitioners, tourism players and the government -- to come together "to build the sector of our dreams".

"The current demand for health and wellness services has generated a global market in health services.

"In Kerala, the private sector has responded promptly to this demand, which is evident from the increase in the number of super-specialty centers offering services to medical tourists," he said.

As more and more patients from Europe, North America and other affluent regions with high medical costs and long wait-lists look for effective and affordable options, medical healthcare travel to Kerala will be on the rise.

The fast-growing Kerala health sector is fully geared to meet that need, he said.

"Medical tourism to Kerala is not just cost savings or the high standard of medical care facility, but even the waiting time for medical surgery treatment procedures in Kerala and India is much lower than in any other country.

"Kerala also offers a growing number of private centres of excellence where the quality of care is as good as or better than that of big-city hospitals in the US or Europe," he added. 
       THINK 
             HEALTHY 
                     THOUGHTS

Kumaar Holidays
No. 42, Chowdary Nagar Main Road,
Valasaravakkam, Chennai-87
Cell: 96000 76933
E-mail: kumaarholidays@gmail.com

Monday 11 May 2015

KERALA'S MOVIE SPOT TOURISM

KUMAAR HOLIDAYS
No.42, Chowdary Nagar Main Road
Valasaravakkam, Chennai
Cell: 78109 86933 / 78108 96933 / 93810 61000
E-mail: kumaarholidays@gmail.com


The Kerala government has invited film industries across India under its ‘Visit Kerala’ campaign to shoot in the state so that it can promote the state's picturesque tourist hotspots through movies.

"With this collaborative initiative, Kerala Tourism can tap maximum potential out of film tourism by using the Indian film industry," Kerala Tourism Minister A.P. Anil Kumar said.

He was speaking at a meeting with representatives of Film Employees Federation of Kerala, Malayalam Cine Technicians Association and Kerala State Film Development Corporation Ltd.


"Unlike other southern states, Kerala poses some restrictions in filming certain key areas which comes under forest, cultural, archaeological and irrigation departments. The film fraternity will discuss these issues with the respective ministers to formulate a one-stop solution," said Kumar.

Kerala Tourism Director P.I. Sheikh Pareeth said the representatives of the film industry have offered support in all international and domestic promotional activities carried out by the tourism department.

Kerala Tourism secretary Kamala Vardhana Rao said: "Kerala's pride events like Nehru Trophy boat race and Thrissur Pooram (popular temple festival) could be cast in any Indian movie to showcase these events worldwide. In this manner, both film and tourism industry can go hand-in-hand."


KERALA IS A DREAM 
It keeps returning for the rest of our life



KUMAAR HOLIDAYS
No.42, Chowdary Nagar Main Road
Valasaravakkam, Chennai
Cell: 78109 86933 / 78108 96933 / 93810 61000
E-mail: kumaarholidays@gmail.com



Wednesday 1 April 2015

WEB RATNA AWARD TO KERALA

 KUMAAR HOLIDAYS
No. 42, Chowdary Nagar Main Road, 
Valasaravakkam, Chennai-87




Kerala Tourism was today conferred the national Web Ratna Award for 2014 for exemplary e-governance initiative through the Internet.

The Kerala Tourism website (www.keralatourism.org) won the Golden Icon award in the ‘Outstanding Content’ category of the Web Ratna Awards, instituted by the Union government under the ambit of the National Portal of India.

Kerala Tourism Secretary G. Kamala Vardhana Rao received the award from Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad at the award ceremony held at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi.

The Kerala Tourism website, designed and maintained by Invis Multimedia, is among the top tourism portals in the world.

The Kerala Tourism website has won several national and international awards, including five national awards and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold award, for its innovative use of information technology to promote tourism across the world.
Launched in 1998, the Kerala Tourism website today receives around 4.2 million visits and 14 million page views annually.



 KUMAAR HOLIDAYS
No. 42, Chowdary Nagar Main Road, 
Valasaravakkam, Chennai-87


Thursday 29 January 2015

KAIRALI - THE AYURVEDIC HEALING VILLAGE

Kumaar Holidays
No. 42, Chowdary Nagar Main Road, Valasaravakkam, Chennai-87
Cell: 78109 86933 / 78108 96933 / 93810 61000
E-mail:  kumaarholidays1@gmail.com
Website: www.kumaarholidays.com



How about starting your day with a yoga session amidst pristine natural beauty, surrounded with paddy fields and palm trees? 



Kairali Ayurvedic Healing Village in Kerala`s Palakkad town, is one such destination, considered an idyllic gateway for discerning travelers hoping to relax and rejuvenate in the lap of nature.

As conventional as possible, the timetable follows the old-age lifestyle, a far cry from city hassles. De-stressing, lounging in an old rocking chair with a book by the poolside with only distraction being a kingfisher`s playful splashing - the experience is divine.

Yes, travelling from Coimbatore Airport to the village could be dull and dreary, but it`s worth the effort. All traces of fatigue immediately vanish as you enter the village, surrounded by 600 coconut, 200 teak and 20 mango trees. The 50-acre lush-green property is dotted with well-lit spacious cottages that serve as an ideal destination for those looking for body and mind healing. The 31 villas divided into Maharaja Suites (two), Royal Villas (five), Classic Villas (16) and Deluxe Villas (eight), are designed on "vaastu shastra" principles and are allocated to guests on the basis of their sun sign. Great thought!

Facilities are plentiful:


- a group of qualified Ayurvedic doctors administer treatment to cure a variety of ailments.
- A unique blend of modern luxury holiday and natural beauty, 
- A water body flowing alongside each room, bringing solace and peace to one`s mind.
- Yoga and meditation are an essential part of the Ayurvedic way of life and the resort offers both   
   private and group classes. However, if someone wants to holiday without any schedule in hand,  
   avoid Kairali because the only way to make the most of the place is by following its timetable.

T.R. Chandrashekaran, who has been an Ayurvedic practitioner for over four decades, says the power 
of herbs and traditional oils is magical.

Co-headed by the husband-wife duo of managing director K.V. Ramesh and joint managing director Gita Ramesh, the former hailing from a family of traditional Ayurveda physicians, the hospitality division was launched in 1999 with the motto to becoming the leader among wellness resorts, Ayurvedic retreats and healing villages.

Kairali Ayurvedic Group director Abhilash. K. Ramesh said that the intention was to create a place where one can actually "recuperate from stress and strain and undergo treatment for ailments while holidaying".

Keeping the modern lifestyle and eating habits in mind, Ayurveda has great relevance.
"The changed eating habits and modern lifestyles make even a very young person prone to the likes of obesity, spondylitis, arthritis and premature ageing. Our therapies are based on the traditional, fundamental principles of nature, Ayurvedic medicines and oils," Abhilash Ramesh added.

The menu is vegetarian and guests are advised to abstain from alcohol and smoking during their stay.
A multi-cuisine restaurant serves wholesome feasts and a qualified dietician helps guests to choose an ideal diet made from organic vegetables grown in Kairali`s own garden.

From 19-year-olds to 90-year-olds, the place is meant for nature lovers keen to explore the benefits of Ayurveda.

Some of the most preferred treatments include detoxification and purification of the body by Panchkarma, a five-fold body cleansing procedure.




Also experience the soothing spa and massage therapy given by a group of young and middle-aged women. The session consists of a health spa, royal makeover and other face massage done with herbs, plants and other natural products.

The place attracts both Indian and international travelers alike due to its exceptional Ayurvedic standards as it has its own potent herbal range grown in its organic herbal garden.

BEING IN KAIRALI IS DEVINE


 Kumaar Holidays
No. 42, Chowdary Nagar Main Road, Valasaravakkam, Chennai-87
Cell: 78109 86933 / 78108 96933 / 93810 61000
E-mail:  kumaarholidays1@gmail.com
Website: www.kumaarholidays.com




Friday 17 October 2014

JAPAN - A BIG FAN OF KERALA

KUMAAR HOLIDAYS
No. 42, Chowdary Nagar Main Road, Valasaravakkam, Chennai-87
Cell: 78109 86933 / 78108 96933 / 96000 76933
E-mail: kumaarholidays@gmail.com
www.kumaarholidays.com




Kerala's tradition of ayurveda and its unique backwaters have found numerous admirers in Japan where these were showcased at the state's theme pavilion at one of the biggest travel events in the world.

The JATA Tourism Expo, held Sep 25-28 at the Tokyo Big Sight, the biggest convention centre in Japan, saw heavy footfall at the Kerala pavilion throughout the fair duration.

Describing the response as "tremendous", Kerala Tourism director Sheik Pareeth said the Japanese tour operators and the public were eager to know more about Kerala.

"Most of the enquires about Kerala came for ayurveda treatments and backwater cruises," he said.




A large group of Japanese tourists planning their maiden trip to India next month ended up opting for 'God's Own Country' after being won over by Kerala Tourism's promotional campaign at the fair. The group is planning to visit Kerala in October .

It is for the second time that Kerala took part in JATA which saw participation by as many as 970 travel and tourism companies from the 47 prefectures of Japan, along with delegations from over 150 countries.


Kerala Tourism had also conducted a hugely successful roadshow in Kuala Lumpur, the commercial capital of Mayalsia, in its first-ever entry into the South East Asian country.

Indian Ambassador to Japan Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa, who visited the Kerala pavilion at the JATA Tourism Expo, offered the embassy's support in promoting Kerala in the East-Asian island nation.

"Kerala is largely an unexplored holiday destination for the Japanese who are generally great travellers," said Wadhwa.



Japan Airlines, the Japanese national carrier, is considering a code-sharing arrangement with an Indian domestic airline following the huge response to Kerala's destinations from the Japanese travel sector. At present, Singapore and Malaysia serve as transit points to fly to Kerala.

Besides Kerala, Goa was the only other state tourism board to participate in the JATA 2014.

Last year, more than 8,000 tourist from Japan visited Kerala.


Change your location 
and you just  may change yourself

Tuesday 26 August 2014

ALCOHOL PROHIBITION - HEAVY LOSE TO KERALA TOURISM

KUMAAR HOLIDAYS
No. 42, Chowdary Nagar Main Road,
Valasaravakkam, Chennai-87
Cell: 7810986933 / 7810896933 / 9600076933
E-mail:kumaarholidays1@gmail.com
www.kumaarholidays.com

After the news of impending prohibition, God's Own Country is counting its losses: the state could lose a hefty chunk of its around Rs23,000-crore annual tourism revenues even as tour operators, preparing for the busy winter season, are at their wits' end, wondering how to break the news to their clients.

"It will be difficult to explain this. We are expecting some cancellations," says a tour operator, who does large international group bookings for Kerala. The Congress-led United Democratic Front government, after a long meeting at the chief minister's official residence on Thursday, proposed to make Kerala alcohol-free in 10 years.

About 15% of all foreign tourists coming into India checked into Kerala, which translated into total revenues, both direct and indirect, of around Rs23,000 crore in 2013. Online travel agencies say it will also impact domestic travel to Kerala and many people planning a winter trip to the destination might now change their plans. A lot of corporate conferences that are planned in Kerala may also be shifted elsewhere. Domestic tourists to the state stood at 1.08 crore in 2013, while there were over 8.58 lakh foreigners who visited Kerala last year.



Crist Inman, executive director, Raxa Collective, the management arm of Muthoot Leisure and Hospitality, says the state's current restrictions on alcohol sales are worrying hoteliers. "Right now, we have a beer and wine licence at one of our properties — Cardamom County in Thekkady — and the challenge of maintaining that licence combined with the monopoly-cost of product is already so high. If the restrictions get tighter and if the state goes dry, Kerala would lose tourism as an important source of value-add to the economy," he says.

The ministry of tourism has proposed that 4 and 5-star hotels in the state need not necessarily have a bar that serves alcohol on the premises. Tourism minister Shripad Naik said 5 and 4 star hotels can now be classified as star hotels with or without alcohol. But the hotels must make it clear on their websites about the services they provide.

Under the guidelines of the tourism ministry, till now, alcohol was essential for hotels seeking classification under the categories of 4 star, 5 star, 5-star deluxe, etc. This decision would provide flexibility to hotel owners and management staff to take a considered decision on whether to offer alcohol service or not in their units.

Tour operators are particularly worried about business during the winter season. "We are expecting some cancellations. We will have to apprise our clients of the situation," says Rajeev Kohli, joint MD of Creative Travel.










ALCOHOL IS THE 
CAUSE AND THE 
SOLUTION TO MANY
OF LIFE'S PROBLEMS

KUMAAR HOLIDAYS
No. 42, Chowdary Nagar Main Road,
Valasaravakkam, Chennai-87
Cell: 7810986933 / 7810896933 / 9600076933
E-mail:kumaarholidays1@gmail.com
www.kumaarholidays.com


Saturday 23 August 2014

HISTORIC AGREEMENT BETWEEN KERALA TOURISM DEPARTMENT & UNESCO

Kumaar Holidays
No. 42, Chowdary Nagar Main Road,
Valasaravakkam, Chennai-87
Cell: 78109 86933 / 78108 96933 / 93810 61000
 E-Mail: kumaarholidays@gmail.com
www.kumaarholiays.com



Kerala Tourism has signed an agreement with UNESCO to begin a historic cooperation between the state and the world's foremost cultural organisation in promoting and protecting the ancient Spice Route heritage.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Kerala Tourism Secretary, Suman Billa, and UNESCO Director and Representative to India, Shigeru Aoyagi, in the presence of State Tourism Minister AP Anil Kumar and KM Chandrasekhar, Vice Chairman, Kerala State Planning Board.

The MoU signed on 01.08.2014 seeks to formalise a framework of cooperation in the areas of cultural heritage protection and promotion in the state.


"The Spice Route project is a new milestone in the growth of tourism in Kerala. It is a revival of the ancient spice route that connected 31 countries," Anil Kumar said.

"For the project to be successful, it needs the support from all the 31 countries. That is why we have sought the cooperation of UNESCO," he said.

Under the agreement, the Spice Route Initiative of the state government will form the bedrock of the cooperation and partnership between the two sides along with protection of promotion of historical areas of Kerala.

Several historical areas of Kerala linked with the ancient Spice Route, including urban areas, will be developed under the agreement to promote the aim of heritage building.

MOST OF OUR HERITAGE 
COME FROM OUR CULTURE



Kumaar Holidays
No. 42, Chowdary Nagar Main Road,
Valasaravakkam, Chennai-87
Cell: 78109 86933 / 78108 96933 / 93810 61000
 E-Mail: kumaarholidays@gmail.com
www.kumaarholiays.com