Tourist Resorts (Kerala)
Encyclopedia
Tourist Resorts Ltd or (TRKL) is a Government of Kerala undertaking
under Kerala Tourism Department
, established in August 1989 to promote tourism investment and to develop Tourism infrastructure in the Indian state of Kerala
. TRKL was conceived to identify tourism
infrastructure
needs of the state and bridge any identified gaps. Kerala is today growing at an amazing pace in tourism, adhering to the principles of indigenousness, environmental sustainability and community participation. Kerala's beaches, hill station
s, backwaters
, wildlife sanctuaries, historical monuments, etc. attract foreign as well as domestic tourists.
The growth in Tourism Industry has also created an infrastructure gap in various tourism amenities, resulting in a disparity in supply and demand. TRKL is working towards creating various investment, development and partnership models to address this issue and to catalyse growth. To broaden its activities TRKL is reconstituted as Kerala Tourism Infrastructure and Investment Company Ltd
by the Government of Kerala.
in 1989, as an independent company. A 1005 government owned enterprise, the company is managed by Managing Director, who reports to Chairman. The Government Secretary to Tourism Department, is the ex-offico Chairman of TRKL. The current Chairman is Dr.Venu IAS and Managing Director is T.K Manzoor. There are 3 nominated directors in the Board of Directors. The Government Secretary of Finance, Director of Kerala Tourism and Managing Director of KTDC are other members in the board.
(PPP model) projects for tourism infrastructure development. Taj Kerala Hotels and Resorts is a joint venture between TRKL and Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces under the PPP model. TRKL announced its latest PPP model project, an urban entertainment centre at Veli
, Thiruvananthapuram
. This particular project will contribute significantly to the tourism development of the capital city
and Kerala as a whole.
TAJ Garden Retreat Varkala
Taj Garden Retreat Varkala is perched atop a majestic red cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea. The aesthetically terraced facade of the hotel moulds itself harmoniously with the inclined landscape of Varkala beach.
TAJ Garden Retreat Kumarakom
Located next to the Vembanad lake and a bird sanctuary, the Taj Garden Retreat Kumarakom is 14 km from Kottayam, and is accessible by both land and water. The hotel, equipped with Internet access, can convert a guest room into a meeting area for up to 14 for conferences or cocktails.
Gateway Ernakulam
Taj Residency Ernakulam is located on Marine Drive, just minutes from the city centre and Cochin's busy commercial hub. A haven of modern comforts and style, Taj Residency offers stunning views of the sea, the sunset, and Cochin's harbour.
Model, utilizing idle land owned by the Government in locations having tourism potential. One of the first project, identified is development of Veli Urban Entertainment Center with an amusement park, recreational hub and cultural museum.<>http://www.trkl.in/ppp_veli.php<>
In addition, TRKL have already partnered with Kerala Tourism
for constructing mega International Convention Center at Akkulam in Thiruvananthapuram
, along with Mumbai based Raheja Group.
Apart from it, TRKL is planning to start similar International Convention Center facility in Kochi
in PPP
Model.
, Thalassery
Heritage Tourism
Circuit Development, and the Thali Project.
is an eco-tourism initiative by Government of Kerala. The bio park which was earlier known as dream city is located a Kozhikode
district of Kerala. The project is executed after taking into consideration the environmental aspects. The park is located in an ecosystem
consisting of Canoly Canal, wet lands, mangrove
, bird habitat etc.
This project envisages conservation of this historic structure and its surroundings. It includes renovation of the temple pond, Altharas and surroundings.
(Bekal, Valiyaparamba region), Kannur
(Meenkunnu Beach, Thalassery region), Kottayam
(Kumarakom, Aimanam region) and Pathanamthitta
(Aranmula, Konni region). Gradually the project would be extended to other parts of the State. The project would address issues such as unregulated development, inadequate local benefits, social perception among common people towards tourism, degeneration of culture and heritage and increasing environmental impact. It would create tourism linkages and augment potential for various sectors like agriculture, fisheries, traditional industry, people and lifestyle and heritage. Touted as the first of its kind, this project aims in developing local economy and exposing to outside people without disturbing local environment and local customs and hertiages.
Public sector undertakings in Kerala
Public sector undertakings in Kerala are of two types, public sector units in which majority shares are owned by Union Government and public sector units in which majority shares are owned by State Government. Public sector undertakings in Kerala , i.e. enterprises in which majority shareholder is...
under Kerala Tourism Department
Department of Tourism (Kerala)
Kerala Tourism Department is a major government ministry under Kerala Government. It is prime regulatory agency that overviews and supervises entire tourism activities of the state...
, established in August 1989 to promote tourism investment and to develop Tourism infrastructure in the Indian state of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. TRKL was conceived to identify tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
infrastructure
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
needs of the state and bridge any identified gaps. Kerala is today growing at an amazing pace in tourism, adhering to the principles of indigenousness, environmental sustainability and community participation. Kerala's beaches, hill station
Hill station
A hill station is a town located at a higher elevation than the nearby plain or valley. The term was used mostly in colonial Asia , but also in Africa , for towns founded by European colonial rulers as refuges from the summer heat, up where temperatures are cooler...
s, backwaters
Backwater (river)
A backwater is a part of a river in which there is little or no current. It refers either to a branch of a main river which lies alongside it and then rejoins it or to a body of water in a main river which is backed up by an obstruction such as the tide or a dam.-Alternative channel:If a river has...
, wildlife sanctuaries, historical monuments, etc. attract foreign as well as domestic tourists.
The growth in Tourism Industry has also created an infrastructure gap in various tourism amenities, resulting in a disparity in supply and demand. TRKL is working towards creating various investment, development and partnership models to address this issue and to catalyse growth. To broaden its activities TRKL is reconstituted as Kerala Tourism Infrastructure and Investment Company Ltd
by the Government of Kerala.
Administration
TRKL was separated from KTDCKerala Tourism Development Corporation
The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation is a public sector undertaking that conducts and regulates the tourism activities of the Indian state of Kerala. The KTDC is headquartered at Thiruvanathapuram and has offices across all the districts of Kerala. The agency also operates hotels, resorts,...
in 1989, as an independent company. A 1005 government owned enterprise, the company is managed by Managing Director, who reports to Chairman. The Government Secretary to Tourism Department, is the ex-offico Chairman of TRKL. The current Chairman is Dr.Venu IAS and Managing Director is T.K Manzoor. There are 3 nominated directors in the Board of Directors. The Government Secretary of Finance, Director of Kerala Tourism and Managing Director of KTDC are other members in the board.
Joint Venture Partnerships
The primary function of the company is to develop public-private partnershipPublic-private partnership
Public–private partnership describes a government service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies...
(PPP model) projects for tourism infrastructure development. Taj Kerala Hotels and Resorts is a joint venture between TRKL and Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces under the PPP model. TRKL announced its latest PPP model project, an urban entertainment centre at Veli
Veli
Veli is a Turkish and Finnish male given name, meaning guardian and brother in each language respectively.-Given name:* Veli Acar, Turkish footballer* Veli Kavlak, Austrian footballer* Veli Kızılkaya, Turkish footballer...
, Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
. This particular project will contribute significantly to the tourism development of the capital city
Capital City
Capital City was a television show produced by Euston Films which focused on the lives of investment bankers in London living and working on the corporate trading floor for the fictional international bank Shane-Longman....
and Kerala as a whole.
TRKL-Taj JV
A pioneer in India in forging joint venture relationships with private sector, TRKL has floated joint ventures with Taj group. The joint venture company Taj Kerala Hotels and Resorts Ltd has developed the following Resort/Star Hotel projects in TRKL's properties.TAJ Garden Retreat Varkala
Varkala
Varkala is a coastal town and municipality in Thiruvananthapuram district situated in the Indian state of Kerala. It is located 50 kilometres north-west of Thiruvananthapuram and 37 km south-west of Kollam city.Varkala is the only place in southern Kerala where cliffs are found adjacent to...
Taj Garden Retreat Varkala is perched atop a majestic red cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea. The aesthetically terraced facade of the hotel moulds itself harmoniously with the inclined landscape of Varkala beach.
TAJ Garden Retreat Kumarakom
Kumarakom
Kumarakom is a popular tourism destination located near the city of Kottayam , in Kerala, India, famous for its backwater tourism. It is set in the backdrop of the Vembanad Lake which is the largest freshwater lake in the state of Kerala.-Environment:...
Located next to the Vembanad lake and a bird sanctuary, the Taj Garden Retreat Kumarakom is 14 km from Kottayam, and is accessible by both land and water. The hotel, equipped with Internet access, can convert a guest room into a meeting area for up to 14 for conferences or cocktails.
Gateway Ernakulam
Ernakulam
Ernakulam refers to the downtown area or the western part of the mainland of Kochi city in Kerala, India. The city is the most urban part of Kochi and has lent its name to the Ernakulam district. Ernakulam is called the commercial capital of the state of Kerala and is a main nerve of business in...
Taj Residency Ernakulam is located on Marine Drive, just minutes from the city centre and Cochin's busy commercial hub. A haven of modern comforts and style, Taj Residency offers stunning views of the sea, the sunset, and Cochin's harbour.
PPP Venture
TRKL envisages developing tourism based projects on PPPPublic-private partnership
Public–private partnership describes a government service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies...
Model, utilizing idle land owned by the Government in locations having tourism potential. One of the first project, identified is development of Veli Urban Entertainment Center with an amusement park, recreational hub and cultural museum.<>http://www.trkl.in/ppp_veli.php<>
In addition, TRKL have already partnered with Kerala Tourism
Department of Tourism (Kerala)
Kerala Tourism Department is a major government ministry under Kerala Government. It is prime regulatory agency that overviews and supervises entire tourism activities of the state...
for constructing mega International Convention Center at Akkulam in Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
, along with Mumbai based Raheja Group.
Apart from it, TRKL is planning to start similar International Convention Center facility in Kochi
Kochi
-Places:* Kochi, a city in the state of Kerala, India, formerly known as Cochin* Kingdom of Cochin, a former feudal city-state on Malabar Coast, India** Fort Kochi, one of the three main urban components which constitute the present day city of Kochi, Kerala, India...
in PPP
Public-private partnership
Public–private partnership describes a government service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies...
Model.
RE - NRK partnership
TRKL developed an initiative wherein a platform for interaction between resident entrepreneurs(RE) and non-resident Keralites (NRK's) were developed to promote investment in the sector.Government projects
TRKL worked as implementing agency for government projects like Sarovaram Bio ParkSarovaram
Sarovaram is an eco-friendly development near the city of Kozhikode in the southern Indian state of Kerala, situated adjacent to Canoly Canal. The project has been developed with an eco-friendly theme and is located in an ecosystem consisting of wetlands and mangrove forests containing bird habitats...
, Thalassery
Thalassery
Thalassery , also known as Tellicherry, is a city on the Malabar Coast of Kerala, India. This is the second largest city of North Malabar in terms of population. The name Tellicherry is the anglicized form of Thalassery. Thalassery municipality has a population just less than 100,000. Established...
Heritage Tourism
Heritage tourism
Cultural heritage tourism is a branch of tourism oriented towards the cultural heritage of the location where tourism is occurring...
Circuit Development, and the Thali Project.
- Sarovaram Bio ParkSarovaramSarovaram is an eco-friendly development near the city of Kozhikode in the southern Indian state of Kerala, situated adjacent to Canoly Canal. The project has been developed with an eco-friendly theme and is located in an ecosystem consisting of wetlands and mangrove forests containing bird habitats...
is an eco-tourism initiative by Government of Kerala. The bio park which was earlier known as dream city is located a Kozhikode
Kozhikode
Kozhikode During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikkode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District...
district of Kerala. The project is executed after taking into consideration the environmental aspects. The park is located in an ecosystem
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
consisting of Canoly Canal, wet lands, mangrove
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
, bird habitat etc.
- Thalaserry Circuit, consisting of an Overburrys folly with View tower, walkway etc, a sea-view park, a pathway connecting Overburrys folly and sea-view children's park and a municipal park with recreation and cafes, located near Thalassery FortThalassery FortTellicherry Fort is in Thalassery a town in Kannur District of Kerala state in south India.The British East India Company built the fort in 1708 to establish a stronghold on the Malabar Coast. In 1781 Hyder Ali, ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore, was unsuccessful in capturing the Fort in his campaign...
, a prominent tourist location. http://www.trkl.in/gop_heritage.php - Thali Temple Conservation Project, KozhikodeKozhikodeKozhikode During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikkode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District...
is one of the ancient Siva Temples in Kerala dating back to the days of the Zamorin's rule. The temple with its well balanced combination of wood and laterate in construction is considered as one of the icons of the cultural heritage of Kerala, especially the Malabar region.
This project envisages conservation of this historic structure and its surroundings. It includes renovation of the temple pond, Altharas and surroundings.
SAPARYA
Synergizing Actions through Participatory Approach, abbreviated as SAPARYA is the latest offering of TRKL in developing community based tourist projects, in which larger community invest together with TRKL in developing ecological sustainable community initiatives. The pilot project will be implemented in four districts: KasaragodKasaragod
Kasaragod is a town and a municipality in Kasaragod district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of Kasaragod district as well as of Kasaragod Taluk...
(Bekal, Valiyaparamba region), Kannur
Kannur
Kannur , also known as Cannanore, is a city in Kannur district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of the District of Kannur and 518km north of state capital Trivandrum. During British rule in India, Kannur was known by its old name Cannanore, which is still in...
(Meenkunnu Beach, Thalassery region), Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
(Kumarakom, Aimanam region) and Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta is a large town and a municipality situated in the central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, south India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The city has a population of 38,000...
(Aranmula, Konni region). Gradually the project would be extended to other parts of the State. The project would address issues such as unregulated development, inadequate local benefits, social perception among common people towards tourism, degeneration of culture and heritage and increasing environmental impact. It would create tourism linkages and augment potential for various sectors like agriculture, fisheries, traditional industry, people and lifestyle and heritage. Touted as the first of its kind, this project aims in developing local economy and exposing to outside people without disturbing local environment and local customs and hertiages.