The massive floods of 2018 August hit Kerala hard in all way.
Millions of people were displaced, their houses inundated with flood
waters, no food, no drinking water, no clothings, everything was washed
away by heavy rains compounded by water that was released from the
overflowing Periyar dam. Damage to property and life was estimated in
thousands of crores. Tourism being one of the main industry in God’s Own
Country, as Kerala is called, had the biggest hit. It is not just for
tourists but the employment that it provides to thousands of Keralites
had also gone. The government of Kerala and moreover the people have to
be saluted for their dedicated help with which Kerala bounced back to
normalcy. With the resilience of the people of the state, just a month
after the floods, Kerala is back on its feet. It is inviting tourists
with open arms to visit the beautiful state like before. Hotels,
resorts, roads have all opened. As Kerala is saying, The Sun is Out.
My report on how Kerala is back on track for tourism:
Kerala, God’s own Country, is ready to welcome tourists once again
Allaying apprehensions about the preparedness of its globally famous
destinations, Kerala announced that it is ready to receive tourists in
all major places within a month after the state was convulsed by one of
the most devastating floods in recent times.
“Tourism is a major contributor to Kerala’s economy and a significant
source for earning foreign exchange. The floods left the tourism
industry in a state of disarray and shock but now it has bounced back
into business with renewed vigor, demonstrating its inherent resilience
and determination to overcome the traumatic aftermath of the floods”,
Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran said.
Asserting that things are back to normal he said, restoration and
rehabilitation activities are in full swing. ‘Road connectivity has been
re-established. Flights are operating. Hotels and resorts are up and
running. Kerala is back on tracks. God’s own Country is ready to welcome
tourists once again,’ the minister said.
The minister said, there is a need to restore confidence of various
stakeholders in tourism sector, both in India and in major foreign
markets and assure travelers that the state’s tourism and hospitality
industry is fast returning to normalcy.
In this connection he drew attention to a ‘Tourism Readiness Survey’
which was recently conducted by the government with a detailed district
wise and destination wise analysis of places, roads and other modes of
connectivity. The survey revealed that leaving alone 13 properties, all
the rest out of the 10,000 are ready. Kerala Tourism has drawn up a time
bound action plan. To reassure the world, the reopening of Cochin
International Airport after floods was telecast live on Kerala Tourism
social media channels recently.
Secretary Rani George who accompanied the minister informed that the
visitors had already started arriving in Kerala for the upcoming tourist
season and that the first chartered flight carrying 60 tourists from
Australia arrived in Kochi on September 15.
In a detailed and impressive presentation on Kerala’s revival
activities with a title ‘Sun is out’ Secretary Rani George espoused that
all the tourism destinations and hotels in Kerala have already been
open for the tourists. All the roads to the tourism destinations have
been repaired or reconstructed, except for some areas like Gavi-Wagamon
which will be cleared sooner than later.
She informed that the Kerala Travel Mart, a biennial
Tourism Trade Fair that showcases the entire spectrum of Kerala’s
tourism industry to the world, will be organised soon. Till date, 545
international tourism buyers from 66 countries and 1090 domestic tourism
buyers have registered for KTM, to be held in Kochi during September
27-30.
Kochi-Muziris Biennale will be held from 12 December
2018 to March 29, 2019. This contemporary art event in South Asia will
be used as a platform that will have artists from all over the world
taking part in Kerala’s syncretic culture.
The government of Kerala is considering organising Champions Boat League this year as planned earlier sending a message out that Kerala waters are safe for adventure activities as well.
Secretary George informed about a newly opened Jatayu Adventure Centre
near Thiruvananthapuram that would be a major attraction during coming
tourist season. The centre houses the world’s largest bird sculpture, a
virtual reality museum, a state of the art ropeway and many other
activities.
Kerala Tourism Department is organising FAM Tours for Travel writers,
journalists meeting planners and travel agents, besides a new brand
campaign to promote Kerala globally. Road shows have been planned in
India and abroad to demonstrate Kerala’s readiness to the world.
“We are planning to conduct FAM tours for the media personnel. There
are also plans to participate in the London Travel Mart and to have a
press meet there. Discussions are on, whether to have the Champions Boat
League, which was postponed due to floods. New campaigns for the
revival of the tourism industry will be commenced from next month,” said
the Secretary Rani George.
The minister also informed, ‘There is no restriction for using alcohols in any tourist destinations”.
On a question Director Tourism P Balakiran assured, “There are no
epidemics in Kerala now. Some of the people, who were part of the rescue
operations, got fever which was due to contact with contaminated water
but now the issue is under control and the health ministry is monitoring
the situation with utmost vigilance.”
“There will be intensive promotion campaigns for reinstating tourism
in Kerala. Tourism industry has a great part in rebuilding Kerala. The
state has envisaged a 12 point programme for the revival of tourism in
the state, with priority to reconstructing the damaged roads.
“We should consider the fact that, no tourists were in trouble even
at the worst situations during the floods. The authorities have taken
adequate and prompt measures to rescue some of the tourists, who were
stranded in some areas. It depicts our commitments towards our guests,”
said P Balakiran, Tourism Director
Keywords: #Kerala Tourism, #Kerala, #Gods Own Country, #Tourism, #India Tourism, #Adventure Tourism
