Mr. Jose Dominic’s welcome speech at KTM2006

Ladies and gentlemen

Assembled here this auspicious day 27th September, World Tourism Day on the occasion of the inauguration of Kerala Travel Mart 2006.

At the dawn of the last decade of the 20th century which is 15 years ago, merely 15 years ago, who could have ever imagined that destination Kerala would, from almost total oblivion, emerge as the fastest growing travel destination in the world according to an organisation no less than the World Travel and Tourism Council.

Who would have imagined 15 years agao that tourism would play so vital a role to build lives and hope to the people of this land.   This year the expectation from tourism is for the creation of 50000 jobs.  Mr. Chief Minister Sir, your Governments expectation is well placed.

The creation of the Kerala Tourism destination in so short a time, I believe, is nothing short of a miracle.  The conceivers, architects, builders and creators of this miracle are many and the allotted time to me would not be sufficient to attempt their description.  Suffice to quote a description of Tourism in Kerala as a creation of ordinary people using resources available no further than the village having created world class.

This process could not have succeeded but for the partnership between private and public and the vision and commitment shown by Governments whatever their political ideology.

The Kerala Travel Mart is an institution created through such a partnership process.  Let me acknowledge here the role played by Government, both at the Centre and the State for the creation of this institution.  KTM 2006 is the 4th edition of an idea spawned in the year 2000.  The first KTM set the tone and built the institution that has proved to be both sustainable and resilient and growing stronger with each edition.

I am glad that the author and conceiver of KTM Shri. Amitabh Kant is here with us.  Mr. Kant and Dr. Venu contributions for creation of the institution of KTM will always be acknowledged and remembered

KTM 2006 has proved beyond all doubt that KTM and Kerala Tourism have a vital role to play to bring prosperity and harmony to this land.  This KTM, the buyer response has been nothing short of spectacular.  Over 1200 buyers, we had to stop registration, as we had no more hotel space for their accommodation.  And they have come from all the continents.

It took just 2 weeks from the date KTM 2006 was announced for all the seller stands to be booked out despite a 60% increase in stand capacity.   For tourism enterprises, KTM has brought the market home.  Today no provider of a service or product can afford not to be a part of KTM.  For the next KTM, I foresee a 100% growth in stand space requirement.

The institution of KTM is unique as is the Kerala model of tourism.  It is a remarkable instance of intense competitors coming together in a collaborative and selfless spirit to grow the size of the pie

The members of the society have contributed their resources and time 100s of hotel rooms, airline seats, ground transportation, organisational talent, all contributed for the common cause without murmur.  If I were to put a value to, it would be quite considerable.  My estimate at least 2 million $.  So too has been the contribution of Kerala Tourism and India Tourism.  A clear evidence that in full blooded partnerships 1 + 1 = more than 2. 

Madam, your investments in Kerala will always pay rich dividends not only to Kerala, but to the entire country.  For Kerala Tourism, I believe the institution of KTM is one more powerful weapon in its armory. 

With these words, let me fulfil the role allotted to me in my capacity as President, KTM Society and Chairman, Organising Committee KTM 2006, to welcome Shri. V.S. Achuthanandan, Hon. Chief Minister of Kerala;

Smt. Ambika Soni, Hon. Union Minister for Tourism & Culture;

Shri. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Hon. Minister for Tourism, Home & Vigilence;

Shri. Cherian Philip, Chairman, KTDC;

Shri. Bharath Bhushan, Principal Secretary-Tourism, Govt. of Kerala;

Shri. Amitabh Kant, Jt. Secretary-Tourism, Govt. of India;

Shri. K. Jayakumar, Jt. Secretary-Tourism, Govt. of India;

Shri. B Suman, Director-Tourism, Govt. of Kerala;

Over 1200 delegates to the Kerala Travel Mart 2006 who have travelled from 50 countries of the world and from different parts of India who are here as buyers;

Members of the Kerala Travel Mart Society who represent the travel and tourism industry of Kerala present here as sellers;

Representatives of airlines who connect Kerala to rest of India and the World whose support has made KTM possible.

Members of the media from around India and from our own, travel writers, photographers, all of you who spread the news and image of this land to all the world

Thank you...

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