KOCHI:
Handing over tickets to the first batch of four passengers, Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas today formally opened Kerala government’s milestone heli-tourism venture that strings together the state’s top destinations by air.
The imaginative project has the potential for big-time private investment in the state, which has already come out with the country’s pioneering heli-tourism policy. The venture comes after Kerala Tourism’s famed initiatives such as houseboats and caravans, he pointed out at the helitaxi inaugural function held at Nedumbassery.
At CIAL Academy adjacent to the Cochin International Airport, 40 km northeast of the city, the Minister released a microsite that provides information on the various travel packages offered by the heli operators along with the details of the trips and ways to book them.
The endeavour enables tourists to save time loss during their visits to destinations. As Kerala’s population density is three times more than the national average, the state has its hiccups in surface travel. “Thus heli-tourism will thus be of immense benefit,” he added.
As the project on PPP mode picks up, authorities will lay new helipads in prime places and widen the network on PPP mode. Sky Escapes has been launched after authorities held several rounds of talks with tour operators. The need came in the wake of tourism destinations building various kinds of facilities for travellers.
Today’s function was attended by Kerala Tourism Infrastructure Ltd Chairman S.K. Sajeesh, Department of Tourism Secretary K. Biju, Kerala Tourism Director P.B. Nooh, Additional Director S. Prem Krishnan and Ernakulam District Collector N.S.K. Umesh.
The tour services are set to pick up with more agencies meeting with the security specifications (of also travellers) and earning recognition from Directorate General of Civil Aviation and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security. Expressions of interest are being called for, after which the aspiring operators need to furnish detailed plans with signatures.
