Housed in a palace on a five acre lush-green campus at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala Institute of Tourism & Travel Studies (KITTS) has completed 25 years of tourism education. Dr Rajashree Ajith, director, KITTS speaks about the institute’s Responsible Tourism initiatives and how the private-public partnership with the state government helps in synergising training and skill development. By Steena Joy
What are the professional courses offered by KITTS?
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| Dr Rajashree Ajith |
The Kerala Institute of Tourism & Travel Studies was established in the year 1988, as an autonomous institute, under Government of Kerala. The institute imparts quality education and training in the field of tourism, travel and hospitality and is a non profit oriented organisation, registered under Travancore-Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Act 1955. This ISO 9001 certified institute is actively involved in conducting academic courses, training programmes, and research and consultancy. Under the leadership of its chairman, the minister for tourism, Government of Kerala and vice chairman, principal secretary –tourism , Government of Kerala.
Headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram, the institute’s hospitality division is at Malayattoor, Kochi. Realising the immense employment potential of the industry, KITTS has opened up study centres at Thalaserry and Kannur.
In 2008 the institute launched MBA in Travel & Tourism affiliated to University of Kerala and applied for AICTE. KITTS is also an accredited Distance Learning Centre of IATA and is included in the knowledge network and depository library of UNWTO. Being the nodal agency for implementing Responsible Tourism in the state, Skill Development in Tourism and Hospitality Management and Hunar Se Rozgar Tak programme of Government of India, the institute provides maximum field experience and practical insight to the students. The Academic Committee under the chairmanship of the principal secretary, tourism, Government of Kerala has eminent academicians and industry representatives as its members to supervise the academic programmes.
KITTS is in the process of starting a new MBA programme in Tourism and Creative Management and a BBA programme in Tourism Management.
KITTS is also into tourism consultancy?
The Research and Consultancy wing of KITTS has been engaged in conducting various research studies and training programmes for different stakeholders of this service industry with the aim of promoting sustainable tourism practices in the state. This wing consists of a diverse pool of experts including in–house faculty members as well as consultants. KITTS is currently empanelled as consultants in the tourism sector as well as training and skill development by the State Planning Board, Government of Kerala.
What are your initiatives in Responsible Tourism (RT) especially as Kumarakom has won the National Award for rural tourism?
KITTS is currently the nodal agency for implementing RT initiative in the state. RT is now operational in major destinations in the state like Kovalam, Kumarakom, Thekkady, Kumbalanghi, Vythiri, Ambalavayal and Bekal. Our initiatives in RT include:
- Streamlining economic activities in RT destinations like local procurement by tourism industry, skill development programme for local community members to equip them to supply products locally as well as to provide employment.
- Developing Village Life Experience package in all destinations (already operational at Kovalam, Kumarakom and Wayanad).
- Operationalised RT Classification Scheme for accommodation units. Classification has been done for all properties at Kumarakom. Now in the process of spreading out to whole of the state.
India’s first RT International Conference,’Looking Back. Moving Ahead’ was organised in June this year at Kumarakom to take stock of the RT initiatives in Kerala as well as to understand the global perspectives in RT.
- Centre for Responsible Tourism Studies – We are planning to start Masters and Certificate courses in RT full time and in distance education mode. Discussions are in progress for collaboration with international universities. Management Development Programmes will be conducted for international and national participants (officials from other state departments and practitioners of RT). Looking at the poverty alleviation aspects and sustainability elements, KITTS would also offer consultancy services in RT.
Do you get major industry players visiting the campus for recruitment?
Our students have been absorbed in various sectors of the industry and have made the institute proud of work in many fields. We have consistently received an overwhelming response from organisations which have absorbed our alumni. The major players who visit the campus for recruitment include Air India, Amadeus, Akbar Travels of India, Carlson Wagonlit Travels, CIAL, Club Mahindra Holidays, Cox & Kings, Kerala Tourism, Emirates, Etihad Airways, etc.
How do you see KITTS in another 25 years down the lane?
For the past 25 years, the institute has dedicated itself in catering to the human resource requirements of the tourism industry by conducting industry demand driven courses, organising training, and extending research and consultancy services to the stakeholders in the tourism sector. Besides developing human resources, the institute is actively involved in extension activities that will support policy makers to accomplish their socio-economic and environmental objectives on the development front. For strengthening and promoting sustainable development of tourism, KITTS was instrumental in developing and executing a successful model for Responsible Tourism in Kerala which is acclaimed globally. Under this banner, we provide a platform for practitioners, policy makers, academicians, NGOs, civil society to come and share their experiences on sustainable tourism periodically. The information generated and experiences shared are disseminated widely to benefit the global tourism sector. We also promote skill and capacity building programmes as part of pro poor tourism with the declared objective of proving quality service delivery to tourists.
Our future plans mainly focus upon developing the institute as an institution of international excellence. The programmes are focussed upon keeping up to international standards. We have plans for student and faculty exchange programmes, interactive classrooms and industry exposure for students at the international level. We aim at high quality academic dissemination, so that the institute becomes a model at the international level.
The institute has a private – public partnership with Kerala Tourism. How does this help in synergising education with practical training?
The association with Kerala Tourism helps students in getting exposure in training and sharpening their organising skills by being part of tourism events conducted by the department. The institute also plays a major role in conducting research studies on behalf of the department of tourism and participates in policy development in tourism. The private sector participation helps in organising training programmes, refresher programmes, and industry-institute partnership in orienting manpower for delivering quality service etc.
Skilled manpower is still a challenge for the industry. Do you have any skill development programmes?
Considering the demand for skilled personnel in tourism, KITTS has launched a Free Skill Development Programme for the poor and marginalised segment with the financial support from the state government. Educated unemployed youth in the state between the age group of 20 to 30 were identified and enabled to join this scheme. These courses are being implemented in association with LSG’s, Kerala State Youth Welfare Board and Kudumbasree. On satisfactory completion of the programme, the participants are given placement support also. The courses are conducted in following subjects: Front office management, tour consultant,travel consultant, naturalist, natural guide and souvenir making.
To commemorate its silver jubilee year, KITTS has announced student and faculty exchange programmes. Which foreign universities have you tied up with for this purpose?
The formalities of a Student Exchange Programme with foreign universities are being completed. We are expected to receive a bunch of 30 students from the University of Konstanz, Germany by the end of this year.
How can the government support institutes such as KITTS to develop industry specific and futuristic courses?
KITTS has the flexibility to design and conduct courses that will meet the needs and requirements of the tourism industry. Normally we make a demand assessment of HR requirements from the industry and design the curriculum in consultation with the industry. The draft curriculum thus prepared is then vetted by the Academic Advisory Council of KITTS headed by secretary for tourism, Government of Kerala.
