Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) has emerged as the highest grosser among the tourism establishments in the country during the last two years. In an exclusive with Kerala Tourism Magazine, Mr. Cherian Philip, KTDC Chairman speaks enthusiastically about the Corporation’s current projects, future plans and factors that contribute to its phenomenal success.

Could you tell us about KTDC’s recent projects?
In Kochi, the work KTDC’s prestigious Marina project has begun. It will have docking facility for fifty yachts and a Marina House with a convention centre on the first floor - all slated to be completed within two years. A connection is being built between Gosree Bridge and Bolghatty Bridge and construction of Bolghatty Heritage Palace is also on the anvil. Once all this is complete, Kochi will definitely emerge as the hub of international tourism in Kerala.

The only drive-in beach in India is in Muzhappilangad. But there are no hotels in the place even now. The Government has acquired two acres of land right in the centre of the beach and KTDC will soon set up a premium resort here. KTDC’s Chennai project is its first outside Kerala. We are setting up a nine-storey premium property on 55 acres in Chennai close to Apollo hospital. These are the three major projects that KTDC has undertaken since the present government came into power.

What about the Tamarind Easy projects?

Of the projects started earlier, the most important is the conversion of 15 KTDC properties into Tamarind Easy Hotels. Of these, five have already started functioning. Eight Yatri Nivases are also going to be immediately converted to the Tamarind Easy brand, and new ones will be set up at Mangattuparambu and Nilambur. In 15 centres, the Yatri Nivases will be upgraded to include a host of modern facilities like air-conditioning, television, etc. The tariff will be that of a budget hotel but the facilities will be enhanced. These cost effective ‘medium hotels’ are being developed to cater to budget travellers.

How far has the renovation work on KTDC properties progressed?

The renovation of existing KTDC’s properties has been going on for some time and we are taking this forward at a rapid pace. Of the amount of Rs. 15 crores set apart for renovation expenses, the Central Government will contribute Rs. 9 crores and the rest is being ploughed back from KTDC profits.

In Thiruvananthapuram, we are renovating the heritage block of Mascot Hotel which had remained closed since four years. The heritage ambience of the structure is being retained in the tile, brick, stone and wooden construction. Similarly, Sayanna, Mascot’s evening restaurant is getting a facelift with better landscaping and a garden full of fragrant flowering shrubs and trees. Sayanna’s inauguration is slated for Chingom 1 (August 17, 2008). At Kovalam, Hotel Udaya Samudra will have a new convention centre on 50 cents of land handed over to KTDC by the Panchayat. The renovation work on the Chaithram budget hotel is almost complete.

We are also renovating the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary in association with the Kottayam Nature Society, pathways for tourists, watch towers, etc. Munnar Tea County will undergo expansion with the addition of 25 rooms to the existing 40. Major landscaping and beautification is planned for the gardens and grounds of the Lake Palace Hotel in Thekkady. Guruvayoor Nandan, KTDC’s four-storey hotel in Guruvayoor will get a lift facility. The toilet facilities for women have been greatly improved in KTDC’s wayside Aaram Motels.

What are the other developments in KTDC?

One of the recent developments is concerning HR. Last year, a training centre was set up at the KTDC Complex in Thiruvananthapuram. All the permanent staff members have benefited from the training programmes conducted by expert faculty. This has brought a lot of professionalism into our operations. I would also like to add that KTDC is the only public sector undertaking where the punching system is implemented in the right way.
Another development is in the area of salary, promotions and transfers. Staff salary has been greatly enhanced. Employees also have ample opportunities for promotion, for instance, a secretary can work her way up to the supervisory and managerial cadres. Due consideration is given to employees who make request for transfers on genuine grounds. Even appointments are through the ‘proper channel’ and not politically engineered. All these developments have improved staff morale and made them a happier lot. Marketing has also been strengthened with our network of general sales agents and KTDC’s online facilities. Further, the Corporation has been an active participant in the many trade fairs and travel marts, both domestic and international.

Please comment on KTDC’s success.

KTDC has registered all-round development in terms of quality, marketing and service. We achieved a gross income of Rs. 60 crore during the last financial year. Salaries take up about Rs. 3-4 crore and around Rs. 9 crore is paid to the treasury as tax, etc. Even then net profit is as high as Rs. 9 crore. I would attribute much of KTDC’s success to its employees – their better performance and co-operation with the management. All KTDC hotels are making a profit. The reason could be the advantage of location within the tourism destination, for instance Waterscapes, Kumarakom, is on the edge of the bird sanctuary, Periyar House, Thekkady, is in close proximity to the Wildlife Sanctuary, etc.

We have rooted out corruption to a great extent and hope to completely eradicate it in a couple of years’ time. We also hope to turn all of KTDC’s 76 properties into profitable ventures within a year, including the beer parlours and Yatri Nivases which are presently incurring losses. This year’s off-season was better than last year’s. In the last two years, the number of foreign tourists visiting KTDC properties registered a 100 per cent growth rate. A recent survey by ‘The Week’ rated KTDC as the top tourism establishment in the country, followed by ITDC and Thomas Cook. I would rate this as a really big achievement. In fact, I believe this is the best time in the history of KTDC.