Kerala Tourism introduces standard accreditation policy for tour operators

In a bid to improve the quality of products and services offered by tour operators in Kerala, the tourism department - Kerala Tourism (KT) is introducing an accreditation policy for tour operators this month. Tour operators can apply and submit documents for the accreditation policy online through www.keralatourism.org. Kerala is believed to be the first state in the country to provide accreditation to tour operators. The accreditation policy is limited to tour operators based in Kerala. KT will charge a nominal fee of Rs 5,000 for the company to be accredited and an additional fee of Rs 2,000 for each branch office of the same company to be accredited. KT has also constituted a three-member Travel Trade Committee to evaluate applications of the tour operators. The Travel Trade Committee members are: E M Najeeb, Chairman – Kerala Chapter, IATO; N M Sharafudeen, Chairman - Kerala Chapter, TAAI and Johny Abraham George, Chairman- Kerala Chapter, ADTOI.

The tourism department felt the need to introduce an accreditation policy for tour operators primarily for two reasons: