Ex-soldiers turn to tourism in Kerala

Venturing into a new horizon, former men-in-uniform are turning into tourism entrepreneurs in God's Own Country.

Called the Veteran Homestays project, the ex-servicemen have opened their homes for tourists. At least 200 rooms, both AC and Non-AC, are available for visitors under the project. They also offer other facilities like ayurvedic treatment, trekking, angling, bamboo rafting, plantation visits, toddy tapping, coir making and much, much more.

"Valued attributes and attainments in service by way of transparency in personal conduct, integrity and dependablity, discpline and ability to converse in many Indian languages besides English qualify us to partner in mutually benefical ventures aimed at tourism promotion through a chain of home stays spread all over Kerala," Brigadier K John Kuruvilla, president, Veteran Homestays, told PTI.

From Air Vice Marshals to an ordinary soldier, the ex-servicemen of all the three forces are in the field, and are training themselves to become good hosts and entrepreneurs in the tourism arena.

"Kerala, which accounts for about 7.5% of ex-servicemen of the total 20 lakh in the country, ranks fourth in their population. Presently, this potent human resource is not being organised and utilised productively," Kuruvilla said.