Date:03/11/2009 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/11/03/stories/2009110351581300.htm

Back Centrum Group hopes to tap tourism potential in Kerala

Financial service provider opens office in Thiruvananthapuram.

The launch of the Thiruvananthapuram branch takes the total number of Centrum offices to 73 overall and 25 in the South.

Our Bureau

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov. 2

The Chairman of Kerala Tourism Development Corporation, Mr Cherian Philip, inaugurated the Thiruvananthpauram office of the Centrum Group, a leading financial services provider, here on Monday.

Mr T. C. Guruprasad, Executive Director, FCH CentrumDirect, was present on the occasion. FCH CentrumDirect caters to the forex and travel needs of high-networth individuals (HNIs), retail investors and corporates.

PRESENCE IN SOUTH

Centrum is the preferred partner of American Express for its brand of traveller cheques. It also has co-branded cards with ICICI Bank and Citibank.

In South India, the Centrum Group has a presence at Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore, Kochi, Pondicherry, Coimbatore and Madurai.

Branch network

The launch of the Thiruvananthapuram branch takes the total number of Centrum offices to 73 overall and 25 in the South.

The new office at Capitol Building, Statue Junction, State Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram, is centrally located to facilitate easy access, Centrum Group spokesman said here. Explaining the rationale of setting up the office, he said that in 2008, Kerala saw 5.98 lakh tourists arrive, an increase of 16.11 per cent over the previous year, making the State one of the fastest-growing destinations in the world.

Focus on ayurveda

With the recent re-emergence of Ayurveda as a holistic system of healing and along with spas and resorts, the State’s tourism industry has gained momentum. Given this, it is only natural for Centrum to increase its presence in the State.

Besides tourism, Kerala also has a flourishing trade in wide varieties and bulk quantities of exotic spices around the globe. FCH CentrumDirect’s presence and enhanced services will offer convenience of easy transaction procedures for the exporters.

CORPORATE FOCUS

According to Mr Guruprasad, FCH CentrumDirect is targeting foreign tourists but is also looking at corporates and individuals in both the private and the public sector.

Though the economy is showing signs of revival, people are still in a wait and watch mode. FCH CentrumDirect will leverage its experience in the foreign exchange and travel market and well-trained professionals to create tailor-made solutions for customers in the State, Mr Guruprasad said.

Centrum offers variety of products including foreign currency, travellers’ cheques, prepaid travel cards, prepaid calling cards and travel insurance.

The company has a strategic investment in Club7 incorporated in 1988 in Kolkata. Club7 specialises in domestic as well as international tour packages for leading corporate and institutional clients.

It has extensively trained and highly experienced personnel across the globe to render quality service in leisure, corporate and business (MICE - Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibition) travel needs.