Kerala Tourism Minister Inaugurates Green Carpet Workshop

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Kerala can be proudly called “God’s Own Country” only when efforts are put in place to ensure security, cleanliness, hygiene, and scientific waste management methods, apart from offering unique experiences, Minister for Devaswom,Tourism and Co- Operation Kadakampally Surendran said here today.
The minister, who was speaking at the inaugural function of a two-day workshop held as part of the Green carpet initiative conducted for the tourist officials at Maria Rani Centre, Sreekaryam, said the initiative is a firm step towards achieving these goals.
Surendran also said there is an imperative need to ensure that that tourism activities should not be confined to just a few tourist centres, but should be expanded to other centres as well.
Officials of the Tourism Department should use their creative skills while carrying out their responsibility. They should be more innovative and experimental rather than being mechanical, he added.
“People have various views on hartals being organized in the state. But the Kerala Government’s decision to exempt the state’s tourism belts from hartal has yielded positive results. This was reflected in the latest hartal held in the state,” he pointed out.
The inaugural function was presided over by Tourism Director UV Jose.
Kudumbashree Executive Director S Harikishore; Suchitwa Mission Executive Director Vasuki; Green Village Executive Director S Sugathan; Habitat Director G Shankar; Responsible Tourism State Field Coordinator Roopesh Kumar; Raj Bhavan PRO Prince; Disaster Management Member Authority Member Secretary, Dr Shekhar L Kuriakose; and Prof Raghunandanan (IRCTC) conducted classes on various topics.
Thiruvananthapuram District Tourism Promotion Council Secretary TV Pra
shanth extended the vote of thanks. GKSF Coordinator Madhu Kallelly was also present.
The workshop will conclude tomorrow (Dec 9).