KOCHI: Kerala Travel Mart, along with the state government’s tourism and health departments, launched a free mass vaccination drive in Ernakulam district on Thursday to revitalize the holiday industry that has remained dull for one-and-a-half years owing to Covid-19.
Kochi mayor M Anil Kumar and Ernakulam collector Jafer Malik opened the three-day programme at Maradu, marking the start of inoculating 2,500 people in the tourism sector.
KTM society president Baby Mathew Somatheeram, secretary Jose Pradeep, vice president S Swaminathan, former president Abraham George and tourism deputy director Abhilash T G participated.
The drive, being held at BTH Sarovaram at Kochi bypass, aims to counter an anticipated third wave of the pandemic, organizers said.
The campaign is part of a statewide drive that aims at making tourism destinations completely vaccinated zones.
KTM society is holding camps till this month-end in all districts to inoculate tour operators, frontline workers and those working in the field of tourism that includes hotels, restaurants, tourist taxi drivers, tour guides, houseboats, homestays and serviced villas. KTM society, which is the country’s biggest organization in the travel and tourism segment, has been working towards reviving the industry since the spread of the coronavirus in the state.
