In an interactive meeting organized at KTDC Waterscapes, Dr Venu V, Additional Chief Secretary (Tourism) Government of Kerala, assured all possible support to the Kumarakom’s tourism industry for a sustainable revival of the tourism in the region.
The meeting was also attended by VR Krishna Teja, Director, Kerala Tourism; Rupesh Kumar K, Responsible Tourism State Coordinator; Sreekumar G, Deputy Director, Kerala Tourism, Members of Chamber of Vembanad Hotels & Resorts, Kumarakom; Representatives of Houseboat Owners Welfare Society, Houseboat Owners Samathi & Homestay Association and other stakeholders.
The industry submitted following suggestions to the Kerala Tourism:
1) Water pollution is a serious threat for, survival of backwater tourism. Major reasons for water pollution can be addressed by creating awareness amongst tourist service providers, tourists, and local community. There is a need to focus on organic farming in the region.
2) Tourism Stakeholders’ concerns over the website of keralatourism.org should be addressed. The website should help the tour operators and agents by facilitating access to online reservation system. There is a need of exclusive website for each major destination of the state. They also sought support on participation in domestic exhibitions.
3) We request to allocate the necessary funds for buying the necessary land for construction of the Substation, on the western side of Kumarakom.
4) To offer more activities in Kumarakom, especially at night, we have been requesting the Govt for providing a route with the width of minimum 100 meters on the (western side of Kumarakom) bank of Lake Vembanad, by demarcating the boundaries and with necessary lights. This will be financially beneficial for houseboats, resorts and hotels.
5) It’s not reasonable to collect fixed charge from the stakeholders of the tourism Industry and also unclassified Hotels are charged under LT 7A which is more than Rs 9 per unit.
6) Govt. has already constructed Nalupank Houseboat Terminal with an investment of around Rs 8 crores in 2020. The terminal offers facility for 40 houseboats/shikara to be stationed. However, it is not operational for public. The opening of the terminal will add another feather in Kumarakom’s tourism as well as reduce the travel time between Alappuzha and Kumarakom.
Dr Venu and Krishna Teja assured the participant to address all these pertinent issues and come out with possible solutions.
