Kerala’s Travel & Tourism Campus KITTS Receives Top Honour from FICCI

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:

Kerala Institute for Tourism and Travel Studies (KITTS), the entrepreneurship and human resources development centre under the State Tourism Department, has been bestowed with the national honour of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)for ‘Excellence in Creating Employment & Entrepreneurship’.

KITTS received the special jury award of the Higher Education Excellence Awards instituted by FICCI for honouring higher education institutions in the country for their unparalleled achievements.

KITTS Director Dr Dileep MR received the award from Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, at the 20th FICCI International Higher Education Summit held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

Congratulating KITTS on receiving the honour, Tourism Minister PA Mohamed Riyas said “this award comes as a recognition for Kerala Tourism’s commitment towards developing a highly skilled human resource pool in the tourism sector. This also reflects the importance given by Kerala to skilling, research and development of the tourism sector at a time when the state’s travel and hospitality sector is making sustainable growth.”

The Minister also said that the process of elevating KITTS into a Centre of Excellence is in its final stage.

Tourism Secretary K Biju said this award endorses Kerala Tourism’s efforts to raise KITTS to the status of Centre of Excellence by providing all support to it.

Tourism Department has executed a visionary plan focussing on skill development of human resources in tourism sector and this award means that we are on the right path, said Sikha Surendran, Director – Kerala Tourism.

Other than providing word-class training to students through its various courses, KITTS has stood out in campus placements in tourism sector. Last year, students of KITTS had won placements in premium institutions across the country and abroad including Europe.

KITTS has been providing entrepreneurship training in homestay and hospitality sector, apart from also imparting training for tour guides and adventure tourism enthusiasts, enabling the creation of significant employment opportunities in the tourism sector.