|
Background
Asia's fastest growing destination and the most acclaimed tourist hotspot of the millennium, Kerala has recorded a steep growth in tourist arrivals over the years. And according to a World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) report, travel and tourism demand in Kerala is expected to grow 11.4% per annum between 2004 and 2013. The surging tourism growth of Kerala brought in a burgeoning demand in accommodation and infrastructure facilities, the lack of which are posing a major hindrance in further enhancing the State's successful growth story.
There is dearth of resorts, hotels, service apartments/homestays, roadways, waterways etc. Thousands of acres of pristine places await basic infrastructure development to transform themselves into tourism-worthy stretches which if met could bring in additional hundreds of crores in revenue and create large employment and livelihood opportunities.
Over ten million Non Resident Keralites (NRKs) play a key role in spreading the social and cultural heritage of God's Own Country around the world, contributing substantially to the growth of Kerala. To explore possibilities and further strengthen the State's progress as one of the leading tourist destinations in the world through encouraging better participation of NRKs, a meeting was held on 15/10/08 in the Chamber of Hon'ble Minister for Home, Vigilance& Tourism. Hon’ble Minister for Industries, Principal Secretary Industries, Secretary (Investment Promotion) Industries Department, Secretary (Norka), Director Tourism, Managing Directors of KSIDC, KFC, KTDC and TRKL were present.
It was decided, in the meeting, to host the meet Ente Naadu - NRK Meet 2008 on 23rd and 24th December 2008 at Cochin. For smooth and effective conduct of the meet an organising committee was constituted. It was decided to position the event under the auspicious of Tourism Department and Industries Department. TRKL was made the nodal agency for implementation of the event.
Pre-event Promotion
On 21st of October 2008 in PRD Chamber, Logo of Ente Naadu was released by Shri. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and event Website was inaugurated by Minister for Industries Shri. Elamaram Kareem. Dr Venu V (Secretary, Tourism), Shri T.Balakrishnan (Principal Secretary Industries) and Shri T.K.Manzoor (Managing Director, TRKL) were present.
TRKL initiated head-on preparations by creating comprehensive database covering prospective NRK associations and individuals within India and abroad extensively. Besides print media advertisements, other modes of communications like direct e-mailing, mobile SMS, web ads, tele-calls, internet groups promotion etc. targeting NRKs were used as promotional tools. 637 online NRK registrations representing 43 countries were received.
Resident entrepreneurs/professionals/property owners were addressed state-wide for tourism project proposals. 201 tourism project proposals were received online, pre-screened, further scrutinized through personal interaction with entrepreneurs by a competent panel and 60 project proposals were selected for showcasing at the event.
The Event
On 23rd of December 2008 amid an overwhelming crowd of more than 500 participants, Ente Naadu was inaugurated by Shri. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Home and Vigilance at Le Meridien, Cochin.
An eye-opening documentary ‘My Land My Opportunity’ reflecting the enormous potential of the tourists’ paradise that Kerala is was screened. After this, Tourism Secretary Dr. Venu V welcomed the guests and delegates. The meet was presided by Shri. K P Rajendran, H’ble Minister for Revenue. Leader of Opposition, Shri. Oomen Chandy delivered key note address. Shri. Mons Joseph, Hon’ble Minister for Works offered felicitations. Apart from Prof. K V Thomas MLA, and Shri.C M Dinesh Mani MLA, Shri. Cherian Philip, Chairman, KTDC and Shri. V K C Mammed Koya, Vice Chairman, NORKA also addressed the congregation. There was wide array of speakers on the dais representing Ministry, NRKs abroad, NRKs within India, Resident industrialists and Govt officials.
Representing enormously successful overseas Malayali community were Shri. Yusuffali M.A, MD, EMKE group, Shri. Ravi Pillai Vice President, Kerala Cultural & Social Association (Kuwait), Dr. P Mohamed Ali, Vice-Chairman Gulfar Engineering & Contracting SAOG, Shri. Soman Baby, Global Chairman, World Malayalee Council & Editor, Gulf News, Dr. Azad Moopen M, Shri. George Nedumparambil, Chairman of Geo Group of companies, Shri Moosa Master and Shri Kochukrishnan.
NRK Business dignitaries within India included Shri. Vivek Nair, Vice Chairman, The Leela Kempinski , Shri. Gokulam Gopalan, M D Gokulam group, Shri. A V Anoop, Director of Cholayil Pvt Ltd (Medimix) & Global General Secretary, World Malayali Council. Leading resident tourism businessmen like Shri. Jose Dominic, Shri E.M Najib and Shri. Baby Mathew also spoke.
Notable among departmental officials were Shri. Amitabh Kanth IAS, Shri. Balakrishnan IAS Principal Secretary Industries, Smt. Sheela Thomas IAS, NORKA Secretary, Shri. P.H. Kurien IAS, Secretary Investment Promotion Industries Shri Manoj Joshi IAS, MD KSIDC, Shri. V Thulasidas IAS, Special Officer, Kannur Airport, Shri. Mohanlal IFS, MD, KTDC etc. Tourism Director Shri. M Sivasankar IAS concluded the inaugural session with vote of thanks.
Investment Session
Presentation and panel discussion on ‘Opportunities for NRKs in investment’ began at 12.20 p.m. Shri. Balakrishnan IAS Principal Secretary Industries made the presentation. Shri. Amitabh Kant IAS, who had been Secretary, Kerala Tourism and also prime mover of Incredible India global tourism campaign as Jt Secretary, Govt of India assumed the role of an inspiring moderator. The versatile panel comprised of Dr. Azad Moopen M, Shri E.M Najib, Shri. Jose Dominic and Shri. Baby Mathew - notable businessmen in the tourism sector in India and abroad and Govt officials Shri Manoj Joshi IAS, MD KSIDC and Shri. T K Manzoor, MD, Tourist Resorts (Kerala) Limited.
The intensively inter-active session went on for over two hours. This was followed by business session at the adjacent Nayanar Hall where a platform for one-to-one interaction between Resident entrepreneurs and NRK investors was facilitated. 60 selected project proposals from resident entrepreneurs together with add-on architecture projects and PPP model projects were showcased.
Stalls of Financial Institutions, Consultants, Mentor organizations etc. at the venue provided the added facility for consultation and clarifications. They included State Bank of India, Federal Bank, IL&FS, KITCO, GITPAC, Kerala Hydel Tourism, Norka Roots, KSIDC and TRKL representing major segments for the industry promotion.
Plenary Session
The plenary session started with a welcome speech of Shri. P H Kurien IAS. Shri. M Sivasankar IAS Director Tourism made a brief presentation on ‘Bring A Friend Home’ scheme. Tourism Minister Shri Kodiyeri Balakrishnan summed-up the event to the gathering. The special invitee Dr. T M Thomas Isaac, Hon’ble Minister for Finance delivered valedictory address thrusting on the need of private sector investments for development of Kerala. The vote of thanks was delivered by TRKL Managing Director Shri. T. K. Manzoor.
|
