Tamil Nadu Tourism Officials Visit Kerala to Study State's Globally Acclaimed Tourism Model

Thiruvananthapuram: Tourism officials from Tamil Nadu have arrived in Kerala to study the globally recognised success of Kerala’s tourism model. The officials are participating in a specialised training program organised by the Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies (KITTS), an institution under the State Tourism Department.

The program, launched on Wednesday, introduces participants to Kerala’s innovative and sustainable tourism practices, as well as its successful destination management models. Tourism Minister P A Mohammed Riyas inaugurated the training online.

A total of 60 tourism information officers from Tamil Nadu, working at both state and district levels, are undergoing training. The program is being conducted in two batches at the KITTS campus, with the second batch scheduled from March 10 to 12.

In his inaugural address, the Minister highlighted the importance of knowledge-sharing and cooperation between the two southern states to fully harness the potential of South Indian tourism. He said Kerala is committed to sharing its expertise in implementing world-class tourism projects and that such initiatives foster a spirit of collaboration and collective growth.

The curriculum covers Kerala’s globally recognised Responsible Tourism (RT) initiatives, sustainable destination management strategies, and advanced branding and promotional models. The program is designed to offer Tamil Nadu officials practical exposure to Kerala’s development approaches in the tourism sector.

Last year, a delegation from KITTS had visited the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation to explore opportunities in human resource development, skill enhancement and tourist guide training.

In addition, District Collectors from Tamil Nadu are planning visits to Kerala to study the state’s District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) model and its innovative ‘Destination Challenge’ initiative. Officials described the collaboration as a step toward strengthening regional partnerships and ushering in a new phase of “tourism diplomacy” in South India.