Record summer haul for KSRTC tourism wing as Goa trips click

Kochi: The budget tourism cell of Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) posted record earnings of Rs 13.16 crore during the April-May summer vacation period, marking a sharp increase from Rs 8.60 crore collected in the corresponding period last year.The growth was fuelled primarily by the popularity of its interstate tour packages, with the Goa budget tour proving especially successful among travellers. The premium one-night and two-day tour packages were launched from depots across the state in the second week of April, with the corporation completing 23 trips to date.“There is good response to the interstate Goa package. It has also encouraged us to introduce more such long-trip packages in the coming months,” R Udayakumar, chief traffic manager, said.Sources said the corporation was actively exploring tour packages to Lakshadweep and Hyderabad in coordination with travel agencies and airline operators. “Preliminary discussions have been completed, and we are awaiting govt approval. We expect to roll out these services in two months,” one of them said.Transport minister C P John refused to comment on these expansion plans, but sources close to him said he was studying the corporation’s problems, possible solutions and future growth trajectory in detail.The Goa package was operated from depots in Kannur (6), Thiruvananthapuram North (3), Alappuzha (3), Kasaragod (3), Pathanamthitta (2), Malappuram (2), Kollam (1), Ernakulam (1), Palakkad (1) and Thodupuzha (1). An air-conditioned Scania bus was deployed for services from the southern depots, including Ernakulam, while both AC and non-AC buses were used for trips from the northern depots.“Our buses operate up to Thalappady, from where tourists will be taken to Goa in luxury buses. The package includes food and accommodation,” an official said.Priced competitively between Rs 8,490 and Rs 9,500, the package bundles transport, premium hotel accommodation, regional cuisine from Kasaragod onwards and a Rs 10 lakh travel insurance coverage into a single ticket.Offering a mix of sun-kissed beaches, historic Portuguese-era forts and Goa’s famed nightlife, the itinerary quickly became an instant hit. Seats on the initial trips sold out within hours of bookings opening, forcing authorities to increase the frequency of services.The vacation rush was not limited to Goa. The budget tourism cell had significantly scaled up its footprint in Tamil Nadu this season. Backed by a fleet of low-maintenance AC buses, it introduced direct holiday packages to popular destinations such as Ooty, Kodaikanal, Rameswaram, Velankanni and Palani.Closer home, the “See Alappuzha” and “See Ashtamudi” land-and-water tour packages also drew an encouraging response. The corporation also plans ‘Kuttanad Safari’ packages in association with the state water transport department.