Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 21 (IANS): The state-owned Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies (KITTS) is all set to get affiliation from the World Tourism Organisation (WTO), the agency of the United Nations responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.

Speaking to reporters here Friday, Rajashree Ajith, director of KITTS, said that once the affiliation is established, students from SAARC countries and elsewhere could study here, with assistance from the United Nations.

"The process of being an affiliate institution of WTO is on. Once we get that, courses could be restructured to meet international requirements. Responsible tourism would be one course, and we have already entered into tie-ups with a university each in USA and UK," Ajith said.

KITTS Friday announced that the year-long celebrations of its silver jubilee would begin Wednesday next.

"We regularly come out with fresh courses to keep in step with changes in the industry, and right now we are working on a cookery course for tourists. Another course recently launched was a three-month naturalism course in eco-tourism for tribal students," Ajith said.