Kerala Tourism has again extended support and assistance to foreign tourists who could not return home due to the ban on international flights which was effected to prevent the spread of COVID 19.
The Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany came forward to operate charter flights to repatriate the German nationals and European Union nationals stranded in India. Those tourists who are asymptomatic and have completed 14 days in Kerala or tested negative were eligible for the repatriation.
For the last one week, officials of the Department of Tourism under the Director Tourism and the help desks have been working tirelessly to contact all these tourists and arrange transportation for them to reach Thiruvananthapuram. I should mention about the efforts of Biju DD Marketing, Sajeev TIO and Ramesh TIO at the Directorate and they were supported by the JDs, DDs and DTPC Secretaries in the concerned districts in this exercise. And MD KTDC came forward to provide Samudra, Mascot and Chaitram hotels for the accommodation and the Convention centre at Samudra hotel for setting up the Registration centre. And the staff of KTDC who provided service to the tourists and TIO and ATIO Kovalam who supported the Registration. And special mention to the drivers who brought the tourists from the different districts to Thiruvananthapuram on 30th March.
The Home Department and the Police made the tourists safe with the required security arrangements. I should also thank the medical team from the Department of Health who did the medical check up of all the tourists at the Registration centre. And Thiruvananthapuram Airport, under the leadership of the Airport Director, for making meticulous arrangements at the airport.
The Department of Tourism and the Honorary Consulate of Germany worked together for the successful repatriation of 232 German and European Union nationals in Kerala. The Embassy of Germany in India, Hon’ble Consul General at Bangalore and the Honorary Consul at Thiruvananthapuram and their officials worked hard to make the repatriation happen.
Kerala Tourism is happy that we could be of assistance to these tourists to enable them to return home during this crisis.
It is 9:30am on 31st March and the Air India flight is taking the German and European Union nationals to Frankfurt in Germany. Wishing all of them a safe journey.
I would like to record my appreciation to all who have contributed to the successful repatriation.
It was a great team work!
Rani George
Secretary Kerala Tourism