Tourism India Magazine
No Verão de 2016, fiz um estágio de um mês numa revista de turismo em Kerala, na Índia, onde trabalhei como editora assistente. Apesar do meu trabalho se focar mais na edição de press releases, tive a oportunidade de escrever um artigo sobre um pequeno seminário e outro sobre um hotel. Ambos estão disponíveis abaixo.
Gearing up to showcase Kerala @ KTM
As KTM is on anvil, the government of Kerala is giving varied training programmes to sensitizethe traders who attend the big gala. The 2016 Training and Skill Development Seminar, part ofthe Kerala Tourism Mart (KTM) that is held every two years, took place in the Hilton Garden Innlast day. This third edition opened with a welcome speech by M. Najeeb, followed by anoverview of Kerala’s tourism by Mr. UV Jose IAS, director of Tourism, who gave a briefdescription on how both government and private sector in tourism join hands to provide a levelplay ground for the traders. Mr. Abraham Jose, the current president of KTM, said that the Martaims at marketing Kerala to a global arena in a unique perspective. Thus, this programme aspirethe improvement of Kerala’s hotel managers’ selling-skills.
The seminar was conducted by Deveanand G, director at Maxires Training and ConsultingCompany, who has had previous experience in the field, having worked in Taj Group of Hotels,Mahindra Holidays and Max New York Life Insurance.As a preparation for the upcoming edition of KTM – which main purpose is to unite allcompetitors of the sector in order to promote Kerala’s tourism – the participants learned, throughdynamic and interactive activities, how to clearly identify their target and, therefore, approachtheir selling strategy to better showcase the state in concordance with their hotels.
In a nutshell, Mr. Deveanand describes each product is a brand and brand is a promise that onegives to the customer. By citing various illustrations he gave a vivid picture of how productselling stands easier when compared to the sketching of a concept which requires more ofarticulation.
Somatheeram Unwinds You…
“A healing resort which blends hospitality”, this is how director-corporate operations, Suresh John, describes Somatheeram Ayurvedic Health Resort, the first of its kind in the whole world.
Founded by the late Dr. Polly Matthew, an Indian who lived in Germany, the resort was built under his ambition of creating an authentic Ayurveda centre, providing an alternative to the western medicine and introducing it to those who didn’t know about this ancient science of life. The prizes it has won over the years – 10 times the “Best Ayurveda Centre Award” and thrice the “National Tourism Award” – certainly confirm the quality Dr. Polly had initially aspired for.
Hidden between bushes and trees – with many flowers and tropical fruit plants – this resort has the privilege of being located in a hilly area that offers a beautiful view over the beach and, thus, the Arabian Sea. The rooms are carefully inserted in the landscape and present a typical South Indian architecture. Ranging from the traditional Kerala’s houses to the cottages, both are fully equipped with all the proper conditions and in an European style. But one thing the guest must be prepared for: there is neither Internet – only available in the hall reception – nor television. This is a place to be free from all the technology and stimulations that surround us all the time now-a-days. A place to focus on our body, mind and soul. For this purpose, Yoga and Meditation – so linked with Ayurveda – are also part of the programme, contributing to the ease of their stressful daily lives.
The guests who come here are not the typical tourists, as pointed out by Mr. John. They come here with a goal in mind: improving their health, and not to travel nor to enjoy a luxurious resort full of distractions. There are the ones who come out of curiosity, but a major part of them takes it rather as a life-style and comes back year after year to keep their dosha balanced.
This is the case of Hienrick, a German guest who has been a regular in the resort for approximately the past eleven years. He first started Ayurveda treatments in order to leave his stressful life behind and to enjoy himself, conciliating it with health reasons. Especially in a time when age starts to be advanced, he finds it important to prevent any deterioration it might come with it. Overall, he emphasizes that “this is a place to relax and meet your own self”.
The sympathy and genuineness of the workers, most of them locals, perfectly matches the serenity that the resort brings to its guests. Therefore, everything composes this environment.
Most of the guests, leading busy lives or with personal problems, come with some negativity that they aim to get rid off. But as soon as they start getting more involved in the spirit of Ayurveda, a new energy is set up. So, naturally they start sharing their experiences with each other, which brings motivation and teaches them new ways of facing life. Important to enhance, once again, that a major factor helps to this change, this is the non existence of internet, neither TV in the rooms. Not even in the dining room there is wireless service. This way, a warm fraternity is built and spread throughout the complex, reaching every single person on it.
In the evenings, cultural activities are provided, such as classical Indian music or traditional dances. There are also cooking demonstrations for those who are interested in keeping up their diets when the time to leave arrives, because food is very important in Ayurveda. It is part of it. Aside from the plan regarding Ayurveda itself – upon the arrival, the guests are taken to an appointment so the doctor analyses them and prescribes the adequate treatments - they also follow a diet plan during their stay. Ayurveda’s style is based on Kerala’s cuisine, but all vegetarian and, as during the time of the treatments it is not advisable to take some spices and vegetables, it is adapted. Generally, it is usually digestive food, as Dr. R. Sreelatha, director of Ayurveda, explains. Related-food problems, such as diabetes, that some guests might have are taken in consideration, providing the centre special diets. And, as the affluence lies mostly on foreigners, their buffet is mixed with some westernized dishes, offering, for example, salads or, during breakfast, bread or croissants.
The medicines, oils and powders used during the treatments and that are for selling, are produced mostly in loco. However, some are bought, but all of them are sent to laboratories where the herbs are carefully analysed before production, to make sure the products are the most natural as possible. As a result, the resort holds the GMP certification from the government.
In this way, Somatheeram Ayurvedic Health Resort is the perfect place for rejuvenating and purifying the body through Ayurveda. With the comfort of a high-quality resort allied to the green flora – and humbleness overshadowing the luxury – the guest is taken through a journey in Kerala’s tropicality, being fully immersed into a unique experience.
