Kerala ties up with IRCTC for new tourist packages

With a view to expand its business and boost its revenue, the Kerala State Road Transportation Corporation is coming up with new ideas and packages. The PSU is in talks with the Government-run Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation to introduce affordable inter-State and international tour packages.

It is expected that KSRTC’s Budget Tourism Cell will launch such packages by December. Under these KSRTC buses will pick-up passengers and tourists from other States from railway stations and also drop them at the respective stations after the tour. This will be part of a pre-arranged single-ticketing system.

Apart from Indian tourists, there are plans to transport international travellers from Kerala airports, again using IRCTC air ticket booking service.

Hospitality sector

BTC is also thinking of making a foray in the hospitality segment. Elaborating on this, BTC State Coordinator Prasanth Vijay said: “We are planning to introduce ‘KSRTC Fresh’ with accredited hotels in Kerala to provide food to the passengers during long trips. An online food delivery service is also under consideration, by which passengers can order food at a destination and, by the time they reach there, food will be delivered.”

Interestingly, BTC was launched on November 1, 2021 and has completed a record of over 2,500 trips and handling over 1.20 lakh passengers. “The target for the first year is Rs 10 crore and we have crossed Rs 8.5 crore by September,” informed Vijay.