KITTS Tourist Guide Training 2026: 168 State & Local Level Guide Seats in Kerala
KITTS Tourist Guide Training 2026: The Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies (KITTS), an autonomous institution under the Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala, has invited online applications for State Level Guide Training and Local Level Guide Training through the Centre for Management Development (CMD), Kerala. The 2026 selection offers 168 training seats in total: 27 State Level Guide and 141 Local Level Guide seats.
Very important: This notification is NOT for 168 salaried government job vacancies. It is a fee-paying tourist guide training and licence-related programme. Successful training may support eligibility for the appropriate Kerala Tourism guide licence subject to the applicable rules; selection does not mean appointment to a government post or a guaranteed wage.
Applications are reported to open on 19 October 2026 at 10:00 AM and close on 9 November 2026 at 5:30 PM. CMD’s official notification and application page identifies both programmes. The user-provided 2026 KITTS notification PDF could not be opened directly while preparing this draft. Numerical details such as fees and district quotas below are corroborated by contemporary reporting and should be checked against the PDF before publication.
KITTS Guide Training 2026 – Overview
| Organising institute | Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies (KITTS) |
|---|---|
| Application and selection agency | Centre for Management Development (CMD), Kerala |
| Department | Tourism Department, Government of Kerala |
| Programme name | State Level Guide Training and Local Level Guide Training |
| Total seats | 168 (27 State Level + 141 Local Level) |
| Programme type | Paid training; not government job recruitment |
| State Level qualification | Recognised Degree in any discipline, OR Plus Two with qualifying 6-month regular foreign-language study |
| Local Level qualification | SSLC / Class 10 pass |
| Residence | Kerala native; Local Level applicants must apply in their home-district quota |
| Age | Minimum 20 years as on 1 January 2026 |
| Training duration | State Level: 9 weeks; Local Level: 4 weeks |
| Application fee | ₹590 plus transaction charges (each programme) |
| Course fee | State Level: ₹32,745; Local Level: ₹20,355 (reported fees inclusive of GST) |
| Salary / Stipend | None advertised; this is a paid training programme |
| Selection | Written examination followed by interview for qualified candidates |
| Application mode | Online through CMD Kerala |
| Start date | 19 October 2026, 10:00 AM (reported) |
| Last date | 9 November 2026, 5:30 PM (reported) |
KITTS 2026 Seats, Training Fees & Duration
| Programme | Seats | Duration | Training fee (incl. GST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Level Guide | 27 | 9 weeks | ₹32,745 |
| Local Level Guide | 141 | 4 weeks | ₹20,355 |
| Total | 168 | Programme-wise | Programme-wise |
Difference between fees: The ₹590 application fee (plus processing/transaction charges) is for participating in the application/selection process. The higher ₹32,745 or ₹20,355 figures are the training/course fees. These are payments by candidates, not salaries paid by KITTS. Read refund, timing and payment conditions in the official PDF before paying.
State Level Guide Training 2026 – Eligibility for 27 Seats
The State Level Guide programme is reported to admit eligible Kerala-native applicants who meet either of these educational routes:
- Graduation: A degree in any discipline from a recognised university; or
- Plus Two with foreign language: Class 12 or equivalent plus a minimum six-month regular course in a foreign language from a recognised university, institute, organisation, embassy or cultural centre according to the notification.
English-language proficiency is mandatory for the State Level Guide programme. The minimum age is 20 years as on 1 January 2026. A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) is reported as compulsory.
Training duration: Nine weeks. Training fee: ₹32,745 inclusive of GST, as reported in 19 October 2026 recruitment coverage.
Local Level Guide Training 2026 – Eligibility for 141 Seats
Local Level Guide applicants require SSLC, SSC, CBSE or equivalent Class 10 pass. They must be natives of Kerala and should be at least 20 years old as on 1 January 2026. A Police Clearance Certificate is reported as mandatory for the selection/training process.
Local district quota: Applicants should apply only under the quota of their district of residence. Applications submitted to another district’s quota are liable to be rejected, according to current recruitment coverage. The training is reported to last four weeks with a training fee of ₹20,355 including GST.
KITTS Local Level Guide 2026 – District-wise Seats
The 141 Local Level Guide places are reported to be distributed as follows. Applicants should verify this distribution and eligibility for their domicile district against the original KITTS notification.
| No. | District | Local Level Seats |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thiruvananthapuram | 15 |
| 2 | Kollam | 10 |
| 3 | Pathanamthitta | 10 |
| 4 | Alappuzha | 10 |
| 5 | Kottayam | 10 |
| 6 | Idukki | 10 |
| 7 | Ernakulam | 10 |
| 8 | Thrissur | 10 |
| 9 | Palakkad | 10 |
| 10 | Malappuram | 6 |
| 11 | Kozhikode | 10 |
| 12 | Wayanad | 10 |
| 13 | Kannur | 10 |
| 14 | Kasaragod | 10 |
| Total | 141 | |
Kozhikode: Ten Local Level Guide training seats are reported. Candidates resident in Kozhikode must apply through their appropriate district quota rather than choosing another district merely because it has more seats.
KITTS Guide Training Selection Process 2026
Selection is through an entrance written examination and personal interview. According to current recruitment summaries, candidates must obtain at least 50% in the written test to be called for the interview. Final selection is merit-based, subject to the official rules.
State Level Guide – Written Test and Interview Pattern
| Component | Marks |
|---|---|
| Knowledge of Monuments | 50 |
| History | 50 |
| General Knowledge | 100 |
| Interview | 50 |
| Overall Total | 250 |
The State Level written test carries 200 marks before the 50-mark interview.
Local Level Guide – Written Test and Interview Pattern
| Component | Marks |
|---|---|
| Knowledge of Monuments | 25 |
| History | 25 |
| General Knowledge | 50 |
| Interview | 50 |
| Overall Total | 150 |
The Local Level written test carries 100 marks before the 50-mark interview. Exact examination centres, dates and instructions will be communicated by the selection agency as per its notice.
Application Fee vs Training Fee
Application / examination registration: ₹590 for each category, plus applicable transaction charges, according to recruitment reporting. Course/training fee: ₹32,745 (State Level) or ₹20,355 (Local Level), reported inclusive of GST. These two fee types must not be confused.
Salary: There is no advertised monthly salary or stipend under this notification because it is a training programme rather than recruitment to a government post. Training and licensing may help guide-sector self-employment opportunities but do not guarantee employment.
How to Apply Online for KITTS Tourist Guide Training 2026
- Visit the official CMD Kerala Recruitment page and open the listing titled Notification for selection process for the State Level Guide and Local Level Guide Training Programmes under KITTS.
- Read the original 2026 KITTS notification PDF carefully to confirm eligibility, domicile requirements, fees, police-clearance documentation and district quota.
- Use the Apply Online link supplied from CMD’s official KITTS recruitment listing. Avoid unverified third-party payment pages.
- Choose State Level Guide or Local Level Guide and, if applying to the local programme, enter your own residence district.
- Complete the personal details, date of birth, educational certificates, contact details and uploaded documents as requested.
- Pay the prescribed ₹590 application fee plus transaction charges through the official application system and retain the receipt.
- Submit by the reported deadline of 9 November 2026 at 5:30 PM, save the application acknowledgement and monitor CMD for entrance-test or interview updates.
Important Dates – KITTS Tourist Guide Training 2026
| Online registration starts | 19 October 2026 at 10:00 AM |
|---|---|
| Online application closes | 9 November 2026 at 5:30 PM |
| Minimum age reckoning date | 1 January 2026 |
| Written exam and interview | To be notified by CMD/KITTS |
| Training programme | State Level 9 weeks; Local Level 4 weeks |
Official Links for KITTS Guide Training Applications
| Original KITTS 2026 Notification PDF | Download official notification |
|---|---|
| CMD KITTS Notification and Apply Online | CMD KITTS Programme Page |
| CMD Kerala Recruitment Portal | CMD Recruitment Listings |
| KITTS Official Website | kittsedu.org |
KITTS Tourist Guide Training 2026 – FAQs
How many tourist guide training seats are there?
168: 27 State Level and 141 Local Level seats.
Is this a government job with salary?
No. This is a paid training and licence-related selection process, not government staff recruitment. Candidates pay an application fee and, if admitted, the applicable training fee.
Can SSLC / 10th pass applicants apply?
Yes. The Local Level Guide programme accepts SSLC or equivalent Class 10 qualifications and reports 141 seats.
Can Plus Two candidates apply to the State Level programme?
Yes, with an additional qualification: a recognised minimum six-month regular foreign-language course, as specified in the advertisement. Plus Two alone is not sufficient for State Level eligibility.
What is the minimum age?
20 years as on 1 January 2026.
Can candidates apply to a Local Level seat in another district?
No. The Local Level scheme requires applying through the home/residence district quota.
How many Local Level Guide seats are available in Kozhikode?
Current coverage reports 10 seats for Kozhikode district.
What is the KITTS application fee?
₹590 plus transaction charges; this is separate from the training fee.
What are the training fees?
₹32,745 for State Level training (9 weeks) and ₹20,355 for Local Level training (4 weeks), as reported inclusive of GST.
How does selection work?
Reported selection is by written test and interview, with a minimum 50% written-test score required to proceed to interview.
What is the last date?
9 November 2026 at 5:30 PM, according to reports of the October 2026 KITTS notification.
Does completing the course guarantee government employment?
No. Course completion and any resulting guide-licence eligibility do not create a guaranteed government job.
More Kerala Training and Career Opportunities
See Kerala Career and Recruitment Updates for further opportunities.
Disclaimer: Geosial Eduland is an independent information website, not affiliated with CMD or KITTS. The official CMD page verifies the programme type and application listing. As the linked KITTS PDF was not retrievable at drafting time, numerical details were corroborated from current news and recruitment coverage. The original official PDF, current CMD instructions and any corrigenda take precedence. This opportunity must not be represented as recruitment to 168 government staff vacancies.
