The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) is to foray into heli-tourism after nine years by launching “joy rides” for domestic and international tourists.
The KTDC will join hands with a Kochi-based company to commence the helicopter services. “We are planning to launch joy rides that will offer a panoramic view of the capital in 10 minutes from March 12,” KTDC chairman Vijayan Thomas told The Hindu here.
The helicopter being chartered can accommodate six persons at a time. The KTDC has identified the Central Stadium, Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium, and University Stadium to start the services.
The University Stadium is likely to be the choice as it is close to the KTDC’s flagship property, Hotel Mascot. “We are awaiting official response to the letters seeking permission,” he said. The 10-minute ride will be offered from dawn to dusk and will cover the backwaters of Thiruvallom, the famed beach resort of Kovalam, Chowara, Poovar, and Neyyar Dam. The flyers will get a bird’s eye view of the city, the light house at Kovalam, and Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
The fares will be in the range of Rs.4,100 to Rs.4,500 a person. The role of the KTDC will be to market the services. Issues such as parking the helicopter and security have to be worked out.
The helicopter services would be extended to Kochi with Bolghatty as the operational base if it worked out well in the capital, Mr. Vijayan Thomas said. Learning from previous experience and to keep the fare affordable, the flyers would not be provided any refreshment during the ride. A similar exercise in 2006 had to be wound up as there were few takers for the service.
