Kerala Tourism is gearing up to launch hop-on/hop-off bus tours in the State capital to provide sightseeing options to tourists who want to explore Thiruvananthapuram with a more flexible schedule.
Kerala Tourism will be using three buses for conducting loop tours linking major tourist spots and places of attractions in the city.
Funds sanctioned
A sum of Rs.1.35 crore has been provided to the Kerala Tourism under Upgradation/ Creation of Infrastructure and amenities from 2015-16 budget for this.
The hop-on/hop-off bus services are popular in New Delhi, Jaipur, and a few other cities in the country, besides in Dubai, Washington and London.
RTC’s heritage tour
The hop-on/hop-off services come close on the heels of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation’s Heritage City Tourism in the capital operated using double-decker buses in the State-owned fleet.
Attractions
Director of Tourism P.I. Sheikh Pareeth said the buses to be used for the loop tours would be wrapped with tourist attractions to make it distinctive from the other stage carriers and to attract tourists.
Tourists can board or get down from the buses, which will be operated continuously, at any of the pick-up/drop-off points.
The buses will cover the beach resort of Kovalam, East Fort, Shanghumugham, the Veli tourist village, Aakkulam, Napier Museum, zoo, science and technology museum, and other landmarks in the city.
Comfortable seating
They will have comfortable seating arrangements, conceptually designed interior panels, tour guides, audio guides, online booking facility, and onboard ticketing facility.
Tourists can alight and board the bus from any place using a single ticket. They will have the freedom to plan their itinerary and explore the landmarks and tourist sites at leisure.
“The services will be a quick and convenient way to get an overview of the capital city and its tourist attractions,” Mr. Pareeth said.
At present, tourists reaching the capital city are depending on tour operators to visit the places or are hiring cabs.
Kerala Tourism had launched ‘hop-on, hop-off’ boat services and water taxis to ensure ‘last-mile connectivity’ to tourist destinations in Kochi last year.
News: The Hindu