Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies (KITTS), a pioneer in travel and tourism studies and training, has been elected for a second time as a Regional Vice-President of Affiliate member Board of Asia pacific region of United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
KITTS, which functions under Kerala Tourism, is the first tourism institute in the country to be elected as Regional Vice-President of Affiliate members of Asia Pacific Region in the UNWTO General Assembly for two consecutive terms.
The general meeting of the UNWTO affiliate members was held at the 21st session of the General Assembly in Medellin, Colombia, recently and KITTS was represented by its Director, Rajashree Ajith.
The post is for a two-year period up to September, 2017. KITTS is already a member of the knowledge network of the UNWTO and the member of e-library and depository library programmes of the UNWTO.
Opportunities
As an affiliate member, Ms. Rajashree said, the KITTS had wide opportunities to interact and collaborate with other international organisations globally, which would promote KITTS as an international educational destination.
KITTS is the nodal agency of the government for implementing responsible tourism in key tourist destinations in the State. KITTS, housed in the Residency campus, Thycaud, is the Kerala chapter of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism and the Premium Plus member of the International Ecotourism Society (TIES).
Expansion mode
The institute, which is in an expansion mode, also possesses membership with Indian Trust for Rural Heritage and Development (ITRHD). A Rs.5-crore international block is coming up in two phases in the campus. The aim is for international exchange between the students and faculty of the KITTS and other institutes.
The director said the association with the UNWTO would also offer internship opportunities for the students at the UNWTO-affiliate organisations.The institute is looking for collaboration with the other affiliate members of the UNWTO, she added.
KITTS is the nodal agency of the government for implementing responsible tourism in key tourist destinations in the State.
