THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala has decided to reopen its tourism sector for domestic travellers from September, coinciding with Onam celebrations but adhering to Covid-19 protocol, Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran said on Tuesday. The government also announced a `455-crore loan scheme to support the sector, which has been the most-affected due to the pandemic.“The plan is to reopen the tourism sector as early as possible,” said Kadakampally. “We’ve opened the temples with restrictions. Similarly, tourist centres will also have reasonable restrictions.”
Kerala will follow in the footsteps of Goa, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, which all have opened their tourist spots to domestic travellers. In those states, travellers will have to carry a Covid negative certificate, pre-booking of accommodation (at least five days prior booking in Himachal Pradesh) and should stay for a minimum of three to five days.
Kerala had opened the tourist destinations for a brief period immediately after the general lockdown. However, a lack of patronage along with the rise in Covid cases resulted in the closure of the sector, which is a major revenue earner for the government. IMA-Cochin president Dr Rajeev Jayadevan said the tourism sector can be opened but under strict protocol to ensure that there is no crowding or mass gathering.
“So, we can allow individuals, couples and families but there can be no conventions or campfires,” he said. “On the one hand you have health and on the other sustenance. In this case, we need to ensure that both go together without affecting the other.”
Kerala’s tourism industry to be opened in phased manner
Paulose Mathew, chairman, Kerala chapter of Travel Agents Federation of India, said the tourism industry is on the verge of a collapse after reduced income for the last 4-5 months.“The hospitality industry in Kerala comprising travel, tourism, hotels, and resorts employ about 20 lakh people. The closure of business has proved to be both ineffective and faulty. It is necessary that we open the tourism sector as early as possible,” he said.
A government official said the tourism sector will be opened in a phased manner. “First the tourists within the state would be considered and the hotels will have to consider opening only a part of its capacity to prevent the spread,” he said. Coincidentally, the tourism season in Kerala begins from September and lasts till March.
L455-crore loan scheme announced
Kerala has announced a D455-crore loan scheme for tourism sector. The existing entrepreneurs can avail upto D25 lakh and small ventures up to D3 lakh.
SECTOR AT A GLANCE
20L workers are involved in the state tourism sector
L45,000cr was last year’s revenue
11.9L foreign tourists
1.84cr domestic tourists
K20,000cr loss suffered by the sector due to Covid-19
CM’s Special Loan Fund
2,500 small entrepreneurs eligible for D1 lakh to D3 lakh loan as working capital
2,500 large entrepreneurs eligible for D5 lakh to D25 lakh loan as working capital