While speaking at the outset of 33rd Annual Convention of Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) at Bhubaneswar, in his very first official event as the Minister for Tourism (I/C), K J Alphons called upon the leaders of travel and tourism industry to share their vision and innovative ideas on tourism, so as to translate the grand vision of the Prime Minister in transforming India’s tourism sector.
He has shown his willingness to work on radical ideas (shared by industry stakeholders) that can bring change and prosperity for the stakeholders of this industry.
‘Let’s Work Together’ – the minister urged the State Governments and industry stakeholders to work with the Ministry of Tourism for transforming India into one of the most preferred destination around the world. Since tourism is a state’s subject; a better understanding and co-operation is required between Centre and State Governments for massive growth of tourism.
The minister says that despite being an amazing country with greatest civilization and history; India is not getting its deserving share in tourism. “India can take over the world as it is a 5,000-year-old civilization. We want to create that India where we love ourselves, love a clean India and its history. Then we tell the world, come and see us.”
While taking the charge on September 04 he said the new assignment was a big responsibility. “There is a lot of potential in our tourism sector but first we will have to love ourselves and love India then we can attract tourists from other countries,” he said.
The new minister is known for his strong anti-corruption stance. Kannanthanam, a Kerala cadre officer, first shot to limelight during his tenure with the Delhi Development Authority in the 90s and earned the sobriquet ‘demolition man’ after he got scores of illegal constructions demolished. He served as the district collector of Kottayam in 1988 and helped make Kottayam town the first 100% literate town in India the following year.
Alphon’s life is nothing short of a miracle. Having passed his high school with 42% from a non electrified village Malayalam medium school, he became one of the toppers of the 1979 batch of the IAS. He was rated to be one of the most competent officers in the history of the civil service.
He is an inspirational orator and has spoken to over three million people, mostly students, in the past 35 years. He was in Time Magazine’s list of 100 Young Global Leaders. He pioneered the literacy movement in India by making Kottayam the first 100% literate town in India in 1989.
In 2006, he quit IAS, contested as an independent from Kanjirappally constituency and got elected as an MLA with huge majority, spending less than Rs. 10 lakh. He decided that he wanted to be different kind of an MLA. He drove his own car and lived in a tiny room in the rest house and got allocated Rs. 350 crores for the constituency and won the best MLA award.
