Metro Mart Daily

The International Women's Day celebration was organised by Metro Mart in association with the Thiruvananthapuram Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Terrace Business Hotel Thiruvananthapuram. It was inaugurated by Aswathy Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi of the Royal Travancore Family.
Even though the women of Travancore were shining in various prominent arenas of the country during the post-independence period, it is time to check whether women are getting adequate security in our country even after 75 years of independence. Lakshmi Bayi said that self-defence art forms such as Kalari and Karate should be included in the curriculum to defend themselves in the face of increasing violence against women.  One reason for the increase in violence against women is the lack of punishment for it. Proper legislation should be made to overcome it. Lakshmi Bayi in her address talked about how women should not be honoured by holding a one-day event and that society should give them the respect they deserve every day. Women's Day has been celebrated all over the world since 1975, when the United Nations recognized March 8 as International Women's Day. International Women's Day is also a day when everyone remembers the women of the world and their contribution to society. Women's Day celebration was also organized to empower women all around the world.

The celebration was presided over by Sri S.N. Raghuchandran Nair (President – Trivandrum Chamber of Commerce and Industries). Smt. Manju Prasannan Pillai (Chief Post Master General of Kerala) was the Chief Guest and delivered the keynote address. Women entrepreneurs were felicitated in the presence of Padma Shri Lakshmi Kutty (Breakthrough in practising Traditional medicine), Sri Siji Nair (Managing Director, Metro Mart), Mrs. Bernadette Maria (Former U.S. Air Force Helicopter Pilot), Dr. Nidhi M B (ISTE National Executive Member), Smt. Sreelatha Namboothiri (Actress), Smt. Subbalakshmi (Actor, Music Composer), Smt. Aparna Rajeev (Singer), and Smt. Anila Joseph (Beauty Therapist and Make-Up Expert).

Photo caption; Aswathy Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi inaugurated the International Women's Day celebration organised by Metro Mart in association with the Thiruvananthapuram Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

First-ever Global Responsible Tourism Summit begins in Kumarakom
 
Kerala will go for timely alterations in its Responsible Tourism (RT) policy to make the activities more people-centric so as to further strengthen the state’s travel and tourism industry, Tourism Minister Shri P.A. Mohamed Riyas said today.
 
Expert suggestions to accomplish this aim will be central to the first-ever Global Responsible Tourism Summit, he said, inaugurating the four-day event at Kumarakom near this city.
 
The government’s RT Mission will spread its activities to entire Kerala by introducing responsible tourism practices in all tourist accommodation units across the state. We must showcase our Responsible, Experiential, Rural and Sustainable Tourism initiatives so as to increase tourist inflow, he noted at the ceremony chaired by Minister for Cooperation & Registration Shri V.N. Vasavan.
 
Emphasizing that Kerala’s tourism activities should be eco-friendly, Shri Riyas said the four-day summit is set to work towards measures that will empower women in the state. 

The conclave will discuss RT models of international repute and work towards a global network in sustainable tourism, he noted in his video address at the opening ceremony that saw Kerala Tourism exchanging a memorandum of understanding with the UN Women's Office in India to adopt women-friendly measures that will strengthen sustainable tourism.
 
Pointing out that Kerala has already decided to convert RT Mission as a Society for the smooth functioning of the initiative, Shri Riyas said the government has decided to revise its 2008 Declaration on RT and scale up its environment-friendly activities across the state.
 
We want to ensure Resilient Tourism activities across the state and create a network of practitioners and promoters of Global RT. We need to gain more knowledge from RT practices across the globe, for which we are considering the formation of a global-level association,he noted. Strengthening RT is going to bring a drastic change in our tourism industry and raise the state's tourism to a new height.
 
The RT Mission is marching towards establishing 100 per cent structured Responsible Tourism destinations through endeavours such as STREET (Sustainable, Tangible Responsible Experiential Ethnic Tourism) and PEPPER (People’s participation for Participatory Planning and Empowerment through Responsible Tourism) that have won global recognition, Shri Riyas added.
 
Minister Shri Vasavan, in his speech to the 280 delegates, highlighted the need for coordinated efforts to ensure the success of RT. Initially, in 2007, when RT was mooted, the idea received poor response. There was even resistance from certain quarters, he recalled. Slowly we won the confidence of the people and RT won public acceptance. We still have a long way to go.
 
Shri Thomas Chazhikadan, MP, who was Chief Guest at the function, said the Centre’s inclusion of two more of Kerala’s tourism destinations (Kumarakom and Beypore near Kozhikode) earlier this year in the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme will add power to Kerala’s RT Mission. “Ours is a state of letters, latex and lakes,” he noted, noting Kerala’s variety of tourist resources. 

UN Women India Representative Ms Susan Ferguson said encouraging women to work in tourism can instill a sense of security among the travellers to the state. “Women should not be confined to backstage jobs such as cleaning or sewing. They should be more visible as drivers and managers,” she noted. 

Responsible Tourism Partnership & ICRT International Founder Dr Harold Goodwin said strong RT policies required continuity in governance. “Businesses may try to shirk their responsibility; the administration must woo them into meeting it. Local communities should benefit much more from tourism,” he noted. “RT is essentially a social movement, and not a business venture.”

Kerala Tourism Principal Secretary Shri K.S. Srinivas, welcoming the gathering at Lakesong resort which is hosting the summit featuring 70 speakers, said RT has been the state’s USP in tourism beyond its nature and hospitality. “Earlier we looked for examples from other places; today the world is looking at Kerala for good tourism models,” he added.
 
Additional Chief Secretary Dr Venu V. gave a video presentation of the state’s RT Mission. Kerala Tourism Director Shri P.B. Nooh presented a report on RT. Kottayam District Collector Dr P.K. Jayasree released the brochure of the February 25-28 summit.
 
RT Mission State Coordinator Shri K. Rupeshkumar proposed thanks. Other speakers included District Panchayat President Smt K.V. Bindu, Ettumanoor Block Panchayat President Smt Arya Rajan, Ward member Shri P.K. Manoharan, Kerala Travel Mart President Shri Baby Mathew and State Tourism Advisory Council member Shri Abraham George, besides representatives of tourism organisations and people’s representatives.

State Responsible Tourism Mission to implement the MoU

Kerala entered into an agreement today with UN Women, boosting women-friendly activities in the state’s tourism sector by training stakeholders who include young representatives and civil organisations.

A memorandum of understanding signed by Kerala Tourism Director Mr P.B. Nooh and UN Women India Representative Ms Susan Ferguson agreed to work towards promoting gender-inclusive tourism sites in the state. The Responsible Tourism Mission will be the implementing agency for the MoU.

As per the pact inked at the first-ever Global Responsible Tourism Summit in Kumarakom near this city, both parties will promote women-friendly tourism in Kerala. This will be done by creating modules and capacity-building of relevant stakeholders, besides providing advisory support for baseline research, implementing women-friendly tourist destinations and supporting interventions to change prevalent discriminatory social norms. 

The world body will help Kerala Tourism in developing reports and material related to women-friendly tourism and their publication. The MoU will strive to build synergies with other flagship programmes of the state and help in rectifying social attitudes that are checking gender-inclusive public spaces in tourism.

Tourism Minister Shri P.A. Mohamed Riyas, while inaugurating the four-day summit at Lakesong resort, said the MoU was in continuation of the state government’s renewed efforts towards women-friendly tourism since October last year. “We will ensure good female participation in tourism initiatives and allied services besides RT (Responsible Tourism) projects. The idea is to promote tourism with focus on women empowerment,” he added.

Ms Ferguson, speaking at the opening ceremony, said women merited encouragement to work in tourism so as to instill a sense of security among the travellers to the state. “More jobs to women in key slots will not only generate employment but curtail the prevailing gender inequality,” she noted.

The pioneering conclave, which is slated to conclude on Tuesday, features 280 delegates and 70 speakers.

Kerala is all set to host a four  day global Responsible Tourism (RT) summit from February 25, showcasing the state’s remarkable achievements in evolving an internationally-acclaimed sustainable tourism model over the last one-and-a-half decade and strengthening it further by coalescing the emerging trends and demands. 

Tourism Minister Shri P A Mohamed Riyas will formally inaugurate the conclave, being organised by Kerala Tourism in association with State RT Mission, on February 26 at Lake Song Resort, Kumarakom, at 9 am. The deliberations of the summit will start with a ‘Speakers Meet’ on February 25.

Minister for Cooperation and Registration Shri VN Vasavan will preside over the function where Shri Thomas Chazhikkadan, MP, will be the chief guest.
Significantly, Kumarakom, located on the Vembanad lake and encompassing the rim of Kerala’s rice-bowl Kuttanad, chosen as the venue for the meet as its panoramic rural settings, heritage and lifestyle, had a seminal role in the Kerala model of RT attaining global fame.

UN Women Representative Ms Susan Ferguson and International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) Founder Dr Harold Goodwin will deliver the keynote address on the occasion. Kerala Tourism Principal Secretary Shri K S Srinivas, Kerala Tourism Director Shri P B Nooh, and State Co-ordinator of RT Mission Shri K Rupeshkumar will also be present. 

The summit, which will feature discussions on building linkages between RT activities and UN Women, and will formally culminate with the adoption of the revamped ‘Kerala RT Declaration’ on February 27.  Speaking about the summit, Shri Riyas said this meet will serve as a platform for brainstorming on creation of sustainable and experiential tourism products and packages in the state in partnership with various agencies in India and abroad to attract more tourists to Kerala. As many as 15 international speakers will attend the summit with 20 foreign speakers sharing their insights through virtual platform. Delegates and speakers from across the country will take part in the event which will also witness around 200 attendees in total.
About 60 experts will talk on more than 12 topics at the summit that will feature a riveting session, titled ‘Inspiring Stories from Destinations,’ where 100 tourists, including delegates, will narrate their experience of travelling in the state.   

On February 28, delegates will make a visit to Maravanthuruthu Water Street project that bagged a global award at World Travel Market, London, last year, for the trail-blazing water conservation initiative linked to tourism development.

Milma was presented the 12th edition of Metro Foods Awards 2022 in the Most Trusted Dairy Co-operative Enterprise category on Tuesday. 

Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Smt J Chinchurani presented the award to Trivandrum Regional Co-operative Milk Producers Union (TRCMPU) Administrative Committee Convener Shri N Bhasurangan at a function here.

Shri Kadakampally Surendran, MLA; TRCMPU Managing Director Shri D S Konda; Tourism Additional Director (General) Shri Premkrishnan S and Metro Mart Managing Director Shri Siji Nair were also present.

IBS to open a Development Centre in Chennai

IBS Software, a leading SaaS solutions provider to the travel industry globally, has announced the completion of a transaction to acquire Accenture Freight and Logistics Software (AFLS). AFLS provides technology platforms to help airline and ocean transportation companies manage their freight operations and grow through digital transformation and innovation. 

The acquisition will strengthen IBS Software’s leadership as a technology provider to the airfreight industry by bringing together complementary solutions and a shared vision for innovating and transforming the air cargo businesses. Boosting the freight business is an increasingly critical priority for airlines and the AFLS acquisition consolidates latest innovations to accelerate growth, especially AFLS’ cloud-based collaboration platforms which deliver advancements in airline partnerships – a major focus area for carriers.

The acquisition is also a strategic step in recognizing IBS Software’s vision to establish itself as an end-to-end player in the global freight supply chain. AFLS has a strong heritage in ocean freight innovation with a suite of new generation platforms that enable ocean carriers to automate critical business functions and make data-led decisions for commercial operations. Further, the transaction helps IBS Software to deploy its cargo and logistics management expertise in the ocean transportation sector. 

With increasing industry focus on the digitalization of the ocean supply chain to improve efficiencies, expansion into ocean cargo presents a significant growth opportunity for IBS Software. The acquisition will also allow IBS Software to tap into a highly capable talent pool of experts in logistics and supply chain management that can drive innovation and deliver value to the industry.

To support this expansion, IBS Software will open a new development center in Chennai, its fourth in India, for travel, transportation and logistics. The center will accelerate the company’s mission to transform how travel companies operate in a digital world by delivering next-generation products to accelerate growth, drive efficiency, and create differentiated customer experiences.

“The acquisition of AFLS is a strategically important milestone for our cargo and logistics business to broaden its global footprint, with ocean transportation being a natural adjacent industry in which to expand our expertise,” said V K Mathews, Executive Chairman of IBS Software. “It is a synergistic opportunity to bring our decades of experience and expertise to the ocean cargo business, as well as strengthen our own capabilities to provide greater value to the air cargo customers.”

“Cargo and logistics are vital to the global economy. It’s an area ripe for growth and hungry for transformation. Recent moves by logistics businesses to enter air cargo as they seek to influence the supply chain at every level are evidence of the growing disruption in the sector. AFLS will be pivotal in our wider mission to transform the global supply chain through digital innovation,” said Anand Krishnan, CEO, IBS Software.

The 4th Edition of the International Conference on Tourism Technology (ICTT) 2023 will be held at the Gokulam Convention Centre from 09.30 AM. ICTT is organized by the Association of Tourism and Trade Organizations India with the support of Kerala Tourism.

The objective of this conference is to prepare the travel and tourism industrialists in India and neighbouring countries to understand the importance of web marketing, how to use the resources available online to drive business, get inputs in adapting to the changing technology and acquire skills to beat the competition.ICTT2023 provides a valuable platform for industry professionals and experts in India and the neighbouring countries to come together to share knowledge, network and discuss the latest trends and developments in the field of tourism online marketing. 

ATTOI President Sri C S Vinod said that the InternationalConference on Tourism Technology (ICTT2023) provides a valuable platform for industry professionals and experts in India to come together to share knowledge, network and discuss the latest trends and developments in the field of tourism online marketing. These conferences can be particularly important for the tourism industry as technology plays an increasingly critical role in how people plan, book, and experience travel. He added that the conference can provide opportunities to learn about new technologies and how they can be applied to improve the tourism experience, as well as opportunities to collaborate and form partnerships. Additionally, the conferences can help to keep the industry updated on the latest regulations, standards and best practices related to the use of technology in tourism. Overall, attending or participating in international conferences on tourism technology can be a valuable investment for any professional or organization working in the tourism industry.

ICTT India will feature eminent speakers from varied backgrounds giving talks and entertaining sessions on various tourism-related topics. The conference isorganized to help hotels and tour operators in understanding how to market, sell and generate business online.It would assist tour operators and travel agents to adapt to new trends and help improve generating enquiries and scaling up conversion levels. The ICTT 2023 will include the topics “How to build your online visibility through the most effective SEO” by Ms. Dipti Parmar, “Importance of storytelling” by Mr. Sachin Bansal, “How to create effective online advertising” by Dr. Seema Gupta, “How to grow your YouTube Channel” by Ms. Ivana Perkovic and “Tips for creating viral Instagram reels” by Mr. Sorav Jain.

The event would see business sessions where one can connect with impactful speakers, explore new perspectives from hundreds of business leaders, and build your future for an unforgettable day in Cochin. 

Karnataka Tourism as part of its initiative has laid out the red carpet to international delegates from over 35 countries attending the Bengaluru leg of the G20 Summit Meet. The visit of international delegates to Karnataka reinforces 'Brand Karnataka' and helps to reinforce the 'One State, Many World' tagline of the tourism department. 

All the arrangements are made under the direction of Hon’ble Chief Minister. Sri BasavarajBommai, Chief minister of Karnataka, and guidance of Smt. Vandita Sharma, IAS, Chief Secretary to Government & Sri Kapil Mohan, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism.

The first G20 Energy Transition Working Group (ETWG) meeting under India's presidency will be held in Bengaluru from 5 – 7 February 2023. The meeting will have over 150 participants including G20 member countries, nine special invitee guest countries - Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Spain.

In addition, leading international organisations including The World Bank, Asian Development Bank, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and International Energy Agency (IEA) will be part of the meeting, the statement read.

Senior government officials from the ministries concerned will also participate in the ETWG meeting for which Karnataka is extending all its support and coordination. The first ETWG meeting will focus on areas like energy transition through addressing technology gaps, low-cost financing for energy transition, energy security and diversified supply chains, energy efficiency, industrial low carbon transitions and responsible consumption, fuels for future and universal access to clean and affordable energy. There will also be a high-level international seminar on 'Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS)'.

Karnataka is hosting 14 G20 meetings (11 in Bengaluru, 2 in Hampi, and 1 in Mysuru). This is the highest after Delhi-NCR and the State is honoured to be given this opportunity. During the meetings and the stay of the delegates, we will be showcasing the State’s many offerings such as spikes, coffee, silk, handicrafts, handlooms etc. Excursion trips are planned within Bengaluru city as 

well as for Nandi Hills, BhogaNandishwara Temple, Mysuru, and Hampi. We would like to encourage, the G20 Secretariat to also showcase the Golden Chariot, South India’s only luxury train.

Being the nodal department managing this prestigious event, Karnataka Tourism sees this as a prestigious and landmark occasion to showcase the best of what the state has to offer to a global and well-travelled audience.

Karnataka is taking every step necessary to ensure the successful conduct of the G20 meetings, including venue management, accommodation arrangements, security, transportation, cultural programs, and more. The state will also be providing gifts and souvenirs such as silk scarves, silk ties, spices & coffee of Karnataka to the delegates during their stay in Karnataka.

To facilitate the smooth operations of the event, Nodal officers have been appointed for each vertical under the Chief Secretary with all concerned authorities such as Tourism, Kannada & Culture, Police, State Intelligence, Traffic, DPAR, BBMP, BIAL, and respective DCs. The department has ensured all arrangements have been put in place, with our representatives having regular interactions with the various concerned departments such as Dept. of Economic Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs, Indian Council for Cultural Research (ICCR) and all concerned G20 coordinators to ensure G20 meetings in Karnataka are world-class and memorable.

Speaking on occasion of the announcement, Mr. Kapil Mohan, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism Department said "It is an honour to the state of Karnataka to host the delegates of the first G20 Energy Transition Working Group (ETWG) meeting under India's presidency. Karnataka Tourism will be showcasing the state's rich heritage and culture to the visiting delegates."

We have planned Live Performances of 30-45 minutes for each evening of G20 meetings through an eclectic mix of dances, music, and a cultural exhibition showcasing the state. An excursion to the Pavagada Solar Park is also planned during the delegate's visit to Bengaluru. Apart from this a visit to Infosys Crescent Green Campus has also been scheduled.

Dr. V Ram Prasath Manohar, IAS, Director, Tourism Department added “It is an opportunity for Karnataka Tourism and its stakeholders to showcase the best of Karnataka to this prestigious delegation and will help reinforce ‘Brand Karnataka’ as a destination of World-class monuments and heritage, its rich culture and warm hospitality!”

A Karnataka pavilion showcasing Karnataka’s products – silk, coffee, handicrafts, and tourism is also planned at the venue. The event will also display the ‘One District, One Product’ offerings of Karnataka.

Young writers must take risk and dare various things including embarrassment and sentiment to try and tell the possible stories they can, says Irish author Mr Colum McCann. Noting that writers are constantly inventing themselves as long as they are daring to do something new, Mr McCann said young writers should be prepared to rise from failures and continue their creative pursuits. In a conversation on “Empathy in Writing, Seeing Both Sides” with Ms Pooja Nair atthe Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters (MBIFL 2023) here on Friday,Mr McCann, who is residing in New York, said budding writers must write what they don’t know even as people would say that they should write what they know. 

“Logically and philosophically the only thing you can write is what you actually know. If you write towards what you want to know, you discover new things. So, you are accessing different parts of yourself like an empathetic leap even into yourself,” he said.  Mr McCann said empathy is the ability to live into somebody else’s shoes. “Accessing a part of your own soul that has a kinship with the soul of someone else. It sounds like an act of kindness onto yourself.” Mr McCann said his seventh novel ‘Apeirogon’ (2020) is based on real life incidents during his tour to Israel and West Bank along with a group of artists, including musicians, writers and activists six years ago. The book recounts the lives of Israeli graphic designer Rami Elhanan and Palestinian scholar BassamAramin.”

Recalling the incident, he said “On the edge of Jerusalem and Bethlehem, I saw two men sitting on a long wooden table there. They lost their daughters in separate incidents.  I was in tears after listening to their stories.” Mr McCann said after going back to New York, he was haunted by the story. “Writers write towards their obsessions and hence I wrote this book,” he added.  MBIFL 2023, (also known as ‘Ka’ in Malayalam), featuresan impressive line-up of Nobel and Booker Prize winners and Jnanpith awardees, among over 400 eminent names in creative fields. 

The Hon’ble Minister for Finance in Kerala KN Balagopalon Friday presented the state budget in the state assembly’s budget session. The minister said that Kerala has bravely overcome the covid challenges and has returned to the path of prosperity and growth. At a time when Kerala is facing a severe financial crunch, the Finance Minister presented the second full budget of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. The key aspect of the Budget lay in how the minister proposed to decelerate the crisis and turn around the finances. Moreover, the minister, through the budget, has highlighted the importance of tourism.

Key Announcements related to Tourism
Rs.362.15crores allotted for the tourism sector.
Rs.19.30 crores allotted for Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies, State Institute of Hospitality Management, and Food Crafts Institute.
Rs.81 crores allotted for the promotion of domestic tourism.
Rs.2 crores have been allotted for Kochi Biennale. Rs.9.5 crores have been allotted for promoting responsible tourism projects, Rs.12 crores for the Champions boat league, Rs.7 crores for Kerala Travel Mart and Rs.8 crores have been allotted for festivals, and cultural programs including Thrissur Pooram.
Rs.10 crores have been allotted for subsidies regarding electricity in the Tourism sector, Rs.3.70 crores for subsidies in caravan tourism projects and Rs.3 crores allotted for the continuation of the Revolving Fund scheme.
Rs.135.65 crores have been allotted for providing basic development and facilities in the major tourist destinations.
Rs.10 crores have been allotted to Kappad Historical Museum which has the potential for becoming a major tourist spot.
Rs.10 crores have been allotted to build a museum and an oceanarium in the district of Kollam which would provide a major boost to the tourism sector.
Rs.22 crores have been allotted for redeveloping guest houses, stays for travellers and Kerala houses.
Rs.17 crores have been allotted for Heritage and Spice Route projects including Muziris, Alappuzha and Thalasseri heritage projects. 

Conservation and eco-tourism projects
The budget allocated Rs.26 crores for forest conservation projects and Rs.7 crores for eco-tourism projects. Moreover, Rs.1 crore has been allocated for Elephant Rehabilitation Centre in Kottoor, Thiruvananthapuram; Rs.5.2 crores for Project Elephant, Rs.4.76 crore for 16 wildlife sanctuaries. Puthoor zoological part in Thrissur will get Rs.6 crores.
Rs.10 crores allocated for implementing work from the home model in the tourism sector.

Other Announcements related to Tourism
Rs. 5 crores set aside for the development of the marina at Alappuzha and Rs. 40.5 crores allotted for developing infrastructure facilities at the minor ports.
Rs.  60,000 crores for the Vizhinjam port area development scheme. Finance Minister proposes land pooling for Vizhinjam port area development. He encourages citizens to hand over land to the government for infrastructural development with reciprocal economic benefits. He also proposes PPP models for Vizhinjam development. The government sets apart Rs. 60,000 for the ambitious port area development scheme, with Rs 1000 crore parcelled out via KIFFB to develop an industrial corridor.
An extensive industrial and commercial centre will be developed in the area around Vizhinjam port
International trade venue for Thiruvananthapuram. A permanent venue for an international trade mela will be set up in Thiruvananthapuram.
Idukki, Wayanad, and Kasargod development projects get Rs. 75 crores each
Rs. 17 crores for the modernization of Government-run cinema theatres. The Minister further announced Rs. 182.14 crores for the culture sector.
The AKG museum is to be set up in Kannur at a cost of Rs. 6 crores. The minister also announced that the Vaikkom Satyagraha Centenary will be celebrated this year, and Rs. 17 crores has been allocated for the modernisation of Government-run cinema theatres and the launching of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation’s OTT platform.