DRThiruvananthapuram: Association of Tourism Trade Organisations, India (ATTOI) in association with Ministry of Ayush and Kerala Tourism will organise a tour of yoga professionals from across the world to the birthplace of yoga. The 10-day educational tour, Yoga Ambassadors Tour, will commence on June 13 from the capital city and will conclude on June 21 on the International Day of Yoga in Kochi.
Yoga Tour operators, Wellness Magazine professionals and Yoga Teachers from across the world will be familiarised with the State’s rich heritage. The Yoga Ambassadors were selected by a team of experts based on specific criteria and experience.
“There is tremendous potential to develop a dedicated yoga circuit in Kerala, combining the existing yoga destinations like Shivananda yoga ashram, the meditation centre at Vivekananda Rock in Kanyakumari and the prehistoric sites in Munnar, where meditation was once practised, with related activities like Ayurvedic/Naturopathic cooking, trekking, houseboat cruise etc. This would provide a holistic experience to yoga seekers and project Kerala as a perfect place to practice yoga while travelling,” said Anish Kumar P K, President, ATTOI.
“Around 160 registrations have been received from the US, UK, Germany, Spain, Singapore, Poland, Australia, and the UAE. The delegates will also get a chance to participate in a mass yoga drill to mark the International Day of Yoga 2018. The tour will conclude with a team dinner in Kochi where the tourism trade operators will be able to network with the yoga ambassadors,” said Sreekumara Menon, Secretary, ATTOI.
The tour will be inaugurated by Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State (I/C), Ministry of AYUSH, at 9 am at the Leela Raviz. Kadakampally Surendran, Minister for Tourism, Government of Kerala, will also be present at the function. The team will participate in an International Yoga Conference and will experience a cultural programme in the evening.
On June 15, the Yoga Ambassadors will take part in an interactive session on yoga at Sivananda Ashram before proceeding to Kanyakumari. The Yoga Ambassadors will visit Jatayupara on June 16 and will have a yoga demonstration there. They will also engage in a ‘Pookkalam’ event with school students in Kollam on the same day. The team will visit Aranmula and head to Kumarakom on June 17.
After a short backwater cruise, the team will proceed to Munnar on June 18 where they will explore the hill station on the first day. On June 19, the Yoga Ambassadors will visit the Muniyara Dolmens, which belongs to the Neolithic Age, situated at Chinnakanal. The Dolmens are believed to be the centre of meditation in the olden days. On June 20, the team will reach Kochi, where they will experience a sunset cruise in Kochi backwaters.
On June 21, the team will participate in a Mass Drill Yoga and later visit the Mattancherry Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue and Fort Kochi, which will be followed by a networking dinner.
