Kerala Tourism teeters on edge

Kochi: The tourism sector in Kerala is watching with bated breath the developments in Munnar, one of the hot destinations of Kerala tourism, even as it braces for the busy tourism season.  

With the town virtually shut down and taxis keeping off the road, the visitors are made to stay back in hotels instead of going for sightseeing. Tour operators were forced to change their schedules as reports of striking workers of the plantation sector blocking the roads, too.

“We have to change the schedules of the guests as the town is shut between 6 am and 8 pm,” said Jibran Asif of Abad Group which runs a hotel in Munnar.

“We ferried tourists from Thekkady early in the morning so that they reach Munnar in time. This causes a great deal of disturbance to their tour plans.”

The situation is expected to be the same on Friday too. There have been no cancellations as of now but if the disturbance continues, they too will follow, he said.

Industry sources in Munnar say there were instances of agitating workers stopping the vehicles carrying tourists. “They did not harm the tourists but left a bad taste in the mouth of the visitors,” the sources said.

A Kochi-based tour operator said he had to change the route of the group he had sent to Munnar. “There are specialist tours group who chart their itinerary much ahead of their arrival,” he said. “Any disturbance upsets their plans and it would bring bad name for the entire state.”

The development comes at a time when the tourism sector in the state was poised for growth this year despite the ban on the sale of liquor.