As the tourism industry gets back on rails post-pandemic, Kerala’s startup ecosystem is lending a helping hand
The travel and tourism sector has slowly inched back to pre-pandemic levels, with many an initiative aimed at its revival rolled out over the past few months. As the industry continues to get back on rails, the state’s startup ecosystem is also lending a helping hand in this regard.
With such plans on the anvil, the incubation activities of Kerala Startup Mission are shifting focus towards strengthening the travel and hospitality sector. The incubation activities look to promote companies in this sector in a big way, acknowledging their bright prospects.
Among the startup companies that are being encouraged by the startup mission is online marketplace Campper, a one-stop shop for campsites that are verified, well-equipped and secured. Other such nascent firms in the line-up include Voye Homes and Tentgram, which function with a vision beyond book-and-stay operators.
Sector pinned down by Covid-19 spread
Kerala has for a quarter century been a major travel destination of national as well as global reputation. Right now, there is further change to that culture with Covid-19 having almost subsided and the world returning to near-normalcy, according to KSUM Chief Executive Officer Anoop Ambika. With the monsoons over, the state is experiencing a strong inflow of tourists. This is set to benefit the tourism and hospitality industries, he added.
Looking towards capitalizing on the resurgence of the tourism industry, six-year-old Campper has listed around 200 camp sites in southern India. With its emphasis on enabling the travellers to stay close to nature and inculcating the spirit of responsible tourism, the company facilitates hassle-free booking of sites for campers and promising them experiential tourism.
‘Rethinking Tourism’ theme for World Tourism Day 2022
Meanwhile, Voye Homes promotes private holiday homes owned by corporate brands, celebrities and HNIs. The facilities particularly benefit those looking for safe and private villas to spend their vacations peacefully with friends or family by avoiding jam-packed hotels and resorts. It currently operates in 11 destinations spread across the Deccan with more than 50 properties and 268 rooms.
Tentgram, which kicked-off operations in 2017 with its headquarters in Munnar, is an outdoor recreational centre that provides overnight stays with outdoor experiences at an affordable budget package. It also holds experiential activities such as kayaking, zip lining and trekking.
With the World Tourism Day 2022 holding aloft ‘Rethinking Tourism’ as its theme, travel and hospitality startups look to achieve exactly that, of course with the support of the nodal agency for entrepreneurship development and incubation activities in the state.
