ALAPPUZHA: The houseboat industry which fostered the development of the old port town Alappuzha is all set to celebrate its silver jubilee.
The celebrations are being organised by various organisations, including Alappuzha Tourism Development Co-operative Society (ATDC), All Kerala Houseboat Owners Association, House Boat Owners and Operators Samithi and Kerala Houseboat Owners Federation. The one-year long celebration will begin on November 15. According to ATDC secretary T G Reghu, houseboat cruising in the district was kick started on November 15, 1991. The ATDC began boat service after formulating a society in 1987. We started a motorboat service on November 1, 1987, from Alappuzha to Kollam.
Only three passengers were ferried in our first service. In 1989, then Union Minister of Tourism Sivaraj Patel, who reached the district to inaugurate a function orgnaised by ATDC, had considered the revival of the tourism industry in the district.In the early stages, the tourists were taken to the backwaters in ‘kettuvallams’ during night. It caught the fancy of foreigners and soon many people started warming up to the idea,” he said.
The houseboat industry is one of the major revenue minting industry in the state.
The industry also spawned hundreds of new job oppurtunities by creating allied activities. Coir, fisheries and hospitality were few of the many related sectors that got a major fillip. Today, over 10,000 people are attached directly and indirectly with the industry,” said Reghu. All Kerala House Boat Owners Association president Josekutty Jose said that now as many as 1,100 houseboats are being operated in the state; 200 in Kottayam, 20 in Kollam and at least another 20 in Ernakulam, Kannur and Kozhikode. Over 1,600 tourists avail the service of houseboats on a daily basis,” he said.