Thiruvananthapuram: 'Yoga Ambassadors Tour,' a specialised trip for yoga professionals from around the world, was inaugurated by minister of State for Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) Shripad Yesso Naik here today.
It is a part of Kerala government's tourism promotion programme,
The tour aims to design a wholesome yoga package for visiting tourists, combining well-known yoga destinations with related activities, the Union Minister for AYUSH said.
The 10-day educational tour for yoga professionals has been organised by the Association of Tourism Trade Organisations (ATTOI) in association with the Ministry of AYUSH and Kerala Tourism Department.
Naik complimented the ATTOI and Kerala Tourism for taking up the concept of a yoga tour.
“Kerala's clean environment and the rich tradition of Ayurveda has contributed to the promotion of tourism. Kerala and its neighbouring Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu together have a few renowned Yoga destinations like Shivandanda yoga ashram, the meditation centre at Vivekanada Rock and the prehistoric sites of Munnar where meditation was once practiced,” he said.
There was already a notable segment of foreign tourists who visit Kerala for taking yoga courses due its rich yoga resources, he said.
State tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran said Kerala has become a model for the other destinations by introducing yoga ambassadors tour.
"The objective of the tour is to familiarise participants with the concept of yoga in Kerala and connect different destinations with yoga in different parts of the state," said P K Anish Kumar, President of ATTOI.
The yoga ambassadors were welcomed to the event with 'Panchavadyam,' the traditional orchestra of Kerala.
Later, the delegates displayed yoga postures in front of the event venue on a flower carpet.
More than 60 Yoga professionals from across the world would be taken to different destinations in Kerala to experience yoga and learn more about it.
The tour will conclude on International Yoga Day on June 21 at Kochi.
The delegates include yoga tour operators, wellness magazine professionals and yoga teachers from across the world.
