Every two years the Kerala Travel Mart is held in the State to showcase the tourism products and players to the travel trade. This year it is being held at Bolghatty Palace in Cochin. It is a two day event and is scheduled on the 25th and the 26th of September 2010.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article795520.ece
Related links on Kerala:
http://corpgypsy.blogspot.com/2010/09/kerala-tourism-your-moment-is-waiting.html
http://vinodnatesansportfolio.blogspot.com/2009/10/mayan-consultants-international-2009.html
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
London Lootfest, Delhi Disgrace and Beijing Bamboozle
A very interesting article on the social cost benefit equations that surround mega events.
CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE
Friday, September 24, 2010
Mexico Tourism: Some exotic films by Diego Pernia
This post is all about some very arty films by Diego Pernia. However it would be advisable to appreciate also the selection of the specific spots and the manner in which they have been highlighted. Each of these destinations have a distinct color and palette which makes this a delightful spectrum of choices for the traveler.
This link is an appetizer to the main feast and provides you with the context.
CLICK HERE
COAHUILA
OAXACA
SINALOA
TAMAULIPAS
CHIHUAHUA
YUCATAN
CHIAPAS
VERA CRUZ
QUINTANA ROO
CLICK HERE
THE COLLAGE OF FILMS NEARLY 9 MINUTES LONG
CLICK HERE
COLLAGE WITH STILL SHOTS OF DESTINATIONS AND THEME MUSIC
This link is an appetizer to the main feast and provides you with the context.
CLICK HERE
COAHUILA
OAXACA
SINALOA
TAMAULIPAS
CHIHUAHUA
YUCATAN
CHIAPAS
VERA CRUZ
QUINTANA ROO
CLICK HERE
THE COLLAGE OF FILMS NEARLY 9 MINUTES LONG
CLICK HERE
COLLAGE WITH STILL SHOTS OF DESTINATIONS AND THEME MUSIC
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
KERALA TOURISM:" Your moment is waiting" a tourism promotion film
Somerset Maugham the famous English novelist,who once visited Kerala, in the first half of the twentieth century,wrote about his spiritual pursuits and his moment of self-discovery in the much acclaimed novel "The Razors Edge". This land, blessed with natures abundant generosity, has continued to be a haven for those on the exalted plane of self actualization. An insight, which possibly led the marketing team to look at "your moment is waiting" as a proposition for the upmarket UK traveler. The film "your moment is waiting" which is attached below, was made as per this brief according to press releases.
While the thought that "your moment is waiting" is evocative of a personalized experience and cues the fact that the land has myriad opportunities for the traveler to have an experience which is unique to him, the film ends up being too arty and vague. The model, Miriam Ilorah, who is from Sweden is possibly here to cue the upmarket inbound international traveler, but in effect, is overpowering the commercial and doing too much of a "video cannibalization". Her antics, which include some weird, obscurantist ritual (a girl who is rags and unwashed being subject to some sorcery ritual) is extinct in the current context and is simply catering to some anachronistic stereotypes some people have of the country. The Kathakali artist and also the Theyyam artist have been caricatured and almost mocked in the manner in which they have been depicted. This obviously may not go down well with the practitioners of the craft and their patrons.
The audio track is from Senegal, and credited to someone called Maal. This possibly accounts for the eerie wailing tone that follows the movie throughout. "Surreal" was the intention of the film maker, I am told!! As to why he should choose "Senegalese" to introduce personal moments in "Kerala", is something that defies logic.The film ends up looking and sounding like a music video of an abstract rock group which is in the throes of collective depression. For me, the palette too was dreary and grey, quite unlike the bright cyan and rich green that we associate with the state.The attempt probably would have been to make it "exotic" or maybe ensure that the visuals were also "surreal"!
Somehow this film, though well shot, seems to have missed all that is unique to the State and give it its unique character.The Kerala feel is missing altogether. I simply could not therefore relate to this rendition of "Gods own country". I am not saying that this had to be a catalogue of places to see in Kerala, but the theme of "personal moments" could have been rendered with veritas.
THE AGENCY SIDE OF THE STORY: STARK ADVERTISING.
It would only be fair to provide the other side of the story. This is what B.R. Swarup the Creative Director from the agency has to say on this:
http://www.campaignindia.in/Article/233509,your-moment-is-waiting-says-new-kerala-tourism-tvc.aspx
CHARGES OF PLAGIARISM: MEXICAN TOURISM FILMS BY DIEGO PERNIAS
It is interesting to note that the whole film seems to be a part of the visually rich series shot by Diego PernIas for Mexican Tourism. The tenor tone and feel are the same, right down to the slow movement and the wailing soundtrack. While Pernia's has stayed true to the collage of colors and the culture of Mexico, our friend Mr Varma, seems to have ignored the ethos and the feel of the State of Kerala altogether.
http://corpgypsy.blogspot.com/2010/09/mexico-tourism-some-exotic-films.html
Diego Pernias has taken care to change the look and colors of the 10 films he has shot to stay true to the place he is showcasing, an elementary precaution that Varma should have taken. In which case this would have been a brilliant effort all round!!
CHARGES OF PLAGIARISM :THE ASHES AND SNOW FILM BY GREGORY COLBERT
Even as the din about this being a rip-off from the Mexican films is about to die down, fresh allegations of this being a frame by frame lift from Gregory Colberts film has been doing the rounds.. As this video shows, the commercial seems to be almost a copy of another video used by Gregory Colbert as part of his Ashes and Snow exhibition project!!
You can read more about it in http://www.ashesandsnow.org/en/info/?module=page&idsection=1
The PR Machinery has been at pains to handle this onslaught of negative comments in the media. This is an article in the ET:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/Didier-Drogba-endorses-Kerala/articleshow/6609719.cms
The Hindu gives the impression of being stridently "leftist" in his views and does this possibly explain the tilt in favour of this film? We don't know!. Ever since Mr Ram ended up looking very silly on National television ( NDTV),after his assessment of the political situation in Tamil Nadu during the Lok Sabha elections proved to be completely removed from reality, not much of credibility is being attributed to its views by this writer.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article696850.ece?sms_ss=twitter&sms_ss=twitter
RELATED LINKS ON Kerala Tourism
CLICK HERE
THE REALITY OF KERALA
The tourist in Kerala has to be prepared for the high density of population, the ubiquitous greenery of equatorial flora and fauna, the never ending coastline with its pristine fishing beaches, the placid blue-green backwaters with swaying coconut trees, the yearlong bright sunny days and even the short monsoons with its incessant rains. There are wild forest reserves where elephant herds graze lazily, tea gardens along cool hills stations with quaint Victorian English cottages, small bustling towns where traditional buildings with tiled roofs and ancient woodwork stand cheek by jowl with modern glass and concrete towers, ancient churches, mosques and temples with elaborate sculptures, all of these make for a busy cultural cauldron that awaits him...even if it is in the premium segment.
The many exclusive resorts that thrive here provide the benefits of a much revered and traditional medical system called Ayurveda through spa treatments which have a growing following among the cognoscenti. Kerala, where literacy is at its highest in the country and where women enjoy almost equal rights to men, has an enlightened policy as far as preserving its culture goes.
Kalari payyatu the native form of martial arts, still thrives in many kalari sanghams and students from the world over come and stay years to master this craft. Traditional performing arts too are carefully preserved,fostered and taught to many. Kathakali, Mohiniattom are forms that are popular at global centres. Temple arts and rituals too are not allowed to perish. The Pongala at Manacaud, the Sabarimala rituals, the Pooram at Trichur are avidly watched by the curious traveler and anthropologist.
While the thought that "your moment is waiting" is evocative of a personalized experience and cues the fact that the land has myriad opportunities for the traveler to have an experience which is unique to him, the film ends up being too arty and vague. The model, Miriam Ilorah, who is from Sweden is possibly here to cue the upmarket inbound international traveler, but in effect, is overpowering the commercial and doing too much of a "video cannibalization". Her antics, which include some weird, obscurantist ritual (a girl who is rags and unwashed being subject to some sorcery ritual) is extinct in the current context and is simply catering to some anachronistic stereotypes some people have of the country. The Kathakali artist and also the Theyyam artist have been caricatured and almost mocked in the manner in which they have been depicted. This obviously may not go down well with the practitioners of the craft and their patrons.
The audio track is from Senegal, and credited to someone called Maal. This possibly accounts for the eerie wailing tone that follows the movie throughout. "Surreal" was the intention of the film maker, I am told!! As to why he should choose "Senegalese" to introduce personal moments in "Kerala", is something that defies logic.The film ends up looking and sounding like a music video of an abstract rock group which is in the throes of collective depression. For me, the palette too was dreary and grey, quite unlike the bright cyan and rich green that we associate with the state.The attempt probably would have been to make it "exotic" or maybe ensure that the visuals were also "surreal"!
Somehow this film, though well shot, seems to have missed all that is unique to the State and give it its unique character.The Kerala feel is missing altogether. I simply could not therefore relate to this rendition of "Gods own country". I am not saying that this had to be a catalogue of places to see in Kerala, but the theme of "personal moments" could have been rendered with veritas.
THE AGENCY SIDE OF THE STORY: STARK ADVERTISING.
It would only be fair to provide the other side of the story. This is what B.R. Swarup the Creative Director from the agency has to say on this:
http://www.campaignindia.in/Article/233509,your-moment-is-waiting-says-new-kerala-tourism-tvc.aspx
CHARGES OF PLAGIARISM: MEXICAN TOURISM FILMS BY DIEGO PERNIAS
It is interesting to note that the whole film seems to be a part of the visually rich series shot by Diego PernIas for Mexican Tourism. The tenor tone and feel are the same, right down to the slow movement and the wailing soundtrack. While Pernia's has stayed true to the collage of colors and the culture of Mexico, our friend Mr Varma, seems to have ignored the ethos and the feel of the State of Kerala altogether.
http://corpgypsy.blogspot.com/2010/09/mexico-tourism-some-exotic-films.html
Diego Pernias has taken care to change the look and colors of the 10 films he has shot to stay true to the place he is showcasing, an elementary precaution that Varma should have taken. In which case this would have been a brilliant effort all round!!
CHARGES OF PLAGIARISM :THE ASHES AND SNOW FILM BY GREGORY COLBERT
Even as the din about this being a rip-off from the Mexican films is about to die down, fresh allegations of this being a frame by frame lift from Gregory Colberts film has been doing the rounds.. As this video shows, the commercial seems to be almost a copy of another video used by Gregory Colbert as part of his Ashes and Snow exhibition project!!
You can read more about it in http://www.ashesandsnow.org/en/info/?module=page&idsection=1
The PR Machinery has been at pains to handle this onslaught of negative comments in the media. This is an article in the ET:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/Didier-Drogba-endorses-Kerala/articleshow/6609719.cms
The Hindu gives the impression of being stridently "leftist" in his views and does this possibly explain the tilt in favour of this film? We don't know!. Ever since Mr Ram ended up looking very silly on National television ( NDTV),after his assessment of the political situation in Tamil Nadu during the Lok Sabha elections proved to be completely removed from reality, not much of credibility is being attributed to its views by this writer.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article696850.ece?sms_ss=twitter&sms_ss=twitter
RELATED LINKS ON Kerala Tourism
CLICK HERE
THE REALITY OF KERALA
The tourist in Kerala has to be prepared for the high density of population, the ubiquitous greenery of equatorial flora and fauna, the never ending coastline with its pristine fishing beaches, the placid blue-green backwaters with swaying coconut trees, the yearlong bright sunny days and even the short monsoons with its incessant rains. There are wild forest reserves where elephant herds graze lazily, tea gardens along cool hills stations with quaint Victorian English cottages, small bustling towns where traditional buildings with tiled roofs and ancient woodwork stand cheek by jowl with modern glass and concrete towers, ancient churches, mosques and temples with elaborate sculptures, all of these make for a busy cultural cauldron that awaits him...even if it is in the premium segment.
The many exclusive resorts that thrive here provide the benefits of a much revered and traditional medical system called Ayurveda through spa treatments which have a growing following among the cognoscenti. Kerala, where literacy is at its highest in the country and where women enjoy almost equal rights to men, has an enlightened policy as far as preserving its culture goes.
Kalari payyatu the native form of martial arts, still thrives in many kalari sanghams and students from the world over come and stay years to master this craft. Traditional performing arts too are carefully preserved,fostered and taught to many. Kathakali, Mohiniattom are forms that are popular at global centres. Temple arts and rituals too are not allowed to perish. The Pongala at Manacaud, the Sabarimala rituals, the Pooram at Trichur are avidly watched by the curious traveler and anthropologist.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Madhya Pradesh, India : Tourism Campaigns
Madhya Pradesh is a state in the heart of India and home to the famed erotic sculptures of Khajurhao temples. This commercial lists out a whole gamut of must visit places in this State. Quite and interesting take and delivered in a sing song style that is endemic to the region.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Kerala Tourism: Responsible Tourism
Kerala is now looking at "responsible tourism.
http://green.in.msn.com/greenliving/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4356706
http://green.in.msn.com/greenliving/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4356706
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)