What started as a brainstorming session to develop the concept of familiarization trips grew into a discussion about the relevance of blogging and eventually resulted in the Kerala Blog Express. When blogging became popular and travel blogging emerged as a major category, most tourism industries started including travel bloggers for Fam Trips. In 2008, Kerala Tourism invited around 125 Indian bloggers to spend a day on a houseboat to experience a day cruise. The event, well received by both online and offline media, was called The Kerala Blog Camp.
“Kerala Blog Express” was born when this idea was expanded into an annual event, including international travel bloggers and an exclusive branded KBE bus. The result was staggering, with a cascade of engaging and original content generated over the course of a few weeks. Over the years, KBE has created over 200 ambassadors, who have documented their journeys, experiences, and memories across conventional, digital and social media platforms in several different languages.
This year, in an effort to help more travellers get an authentic taste of the many experiences that Kerala has to offer, we are expanding the Kerala Blog Express. A bigger and better format has been devised wherein two versions would be conducted back to back, one aimed at international bloggers and another exclusive to bloggers from India. Not only does this give a blogger a better chance of being selected but it also would help the brand reach further, farther and increase domestic footfalls.
A blogger when traveling alone is faced with several challenges which include striding across a strange land, communicating in a language that is unknown to the locals and the biggest, charting out a comprehensive itinerary. Kerala Blog Express rectified these pitfalls by a carefully curated itinerary that ensured the bloggers a complete Kerala experience. Every day begins with a yoga session followed by hands on interaction with craftsmen, artisans and performing artists. The bloggers are also encouraged to try their hand at coir retting, tea leaf plucking, climbing a coconut tree and many such rustic village life experiences. Through the trip, they navigate the tranquil backwaters, explore the spice-scented tea hills, wander through the wilderness, potter around local markets, and are introduced to spicy, mouth-watering cuisine, delicious desserts and riveting art forms.
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