THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Tourism’s tweet inviting the MLAs from Karnataka to unwind in the safe and beautiful resorts in the state created quite a storm on social media in the backdrop of the political drama unfolding in Bengaluru. But the fact is that the houseboat tourism sector - a unique attraction that gained international attention with its dreamy backwaters - is not going down well with foreign tourists. Patronage has been declining.
US national Carol Edward, having visited the state twice, told Express: “The state has the potential to be a paradise. But the service available on the houseboat is not on par with the money paid, apart from the rude behaviour of boat staff, at times. Authorities should make sure waste is disposed of properly and ensure hygiene both inside and outside the boat.”On cue, international travellers ditch the backwaters for the tea gardens of hill stations like Munnar. Also in demand is beach tourism. A Tourism Department study on the foreign tourist arrival underscored that the houseboat tourism sector has been on the decline since 2014. Alappuzha and Kumarakom - considered the cradle of houseboat tourism - stood in the sixth and eight positions respectively in the preferred destination list of foreigners in Kerala. And the overseas footfall to Kumarakom declined considerably.
All Kerala Houseboat Owners Association president Josekutty Joseph said the sector is now more dependent on domestic tourists than foreign tourists. A host of issues are being attributed for the decline.
“To begin with, the middlemen in the sector have been robbing the sheen out of the sector by overcharging the unreserved foreign tourists. Around 80 per cent of such visitors are being conned. For instance, middlemen charged a 70-member tourist delegation which arrived here the other day Rs 70,000 for a ride. But the crooks managed to hold the ride at around Rs 10,000,” Josekutty said.