The Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala will unveil its seaplane service next month, with the inauguration to be held at Ashtamudi Lake, Kollam on June 2. The initial operations will be in a prioritised circuit consisting of Ashtamudi, Punnamada, Kumarakom, Munnar, Bolgatty and Bekal, with Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Calicut and Mangalore airports as base stations. The objective is to provide an additional layer of transportation by offering last-mile connectivity by air to various destinations of the state, said Suman Billa, Tourism Secretary, Government of Kerala.
Houseboats will serve as terminals at the landing and takeoff sites with lounges for tourists. Seaplane operations will be limited to daytime. The project aims to connect 25 tourist destinations. "The seaplane project was among various ideas showcased at the Emerging Kerala Global Connect event held in Kochi last year," said Billa.
Billa said that the product offers tremendous potential to boost tourism in Kerala. "The service will provide a unique experience to travellers, both as a joy ride and as an effective mode of air transport to distant destinations. For example, a tourist who travels from London to Kerala to visit Munnar, can reach the destination via a seaplane from Cochin Airport within twenty minutes instead of six hours by road," he explained.
28/05/13 Anish V Punnackattu/TravelBizMonitor
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Houseboats will serve as terminals at the landing and takeoff sites with lounges for tourists. Seaplane operations will be limited to daytime. The project aims to connect 25 tourist destinations. "The seaplane project was among various ideas showcased at the Emerging Kerala Global Connect event held in Kochi last year," said Billa.
Billa said that the product offers tremendous potential to boost tourism in Kerala. "The service will provide a unique experience to travellers, both as a joy ride and as an effective mode of air transport to distant destinations. For example, a tourist who travels from London to Kerala to visit Munnar, can reach the destination via a seaplane from Cochin Airport within twenty minutes instead of six hours by road," he explained.
28/05/13 Anish V Punnackattu/TravelBizMonitor
