It's time for Kerala

Are you one among those besotted with nature and need a place to rejoice and rejuvenate with family? Kerala is the immediate answer. Nestled in the lap of scenic beauty, the coastal state is probably the only place that offers tourists a plethora of choices. From chilling at the hills, soaking up the sun at the beaches, enjoying the backwaters on the houseboat and experiencing the wildlife, Kerala is a platter of varied destinations that can awe anyone looking for a break. This is also one of the reasons why a number of accolades, the latest being The Lonely Planet Award for Best Destination for Families, have been conferred to the God’s own Country. However, the recognition comes at a time when the controversies surrounding the death of a foreign tourist are rife.

Overwhelmed by the honour bestowed upon Kerala, Tourism Secretary Rani George sees the unfortunate event as a rarest case compared to the tourist inflow and thus can’t be considered a benchmark for tourists’ safety in the state. “The death of the tourist was an isolated incident and there are much more complex things associated with it that have nothing to do with tourism. All our researches have arrived at the conclusion that what attracts tourists to Kerala is not just the array of destinations, but the hospitality of the people too. We have bagged the award based on an online poll conducted by the magazine. It explains well that Kerala is one of the safest places to visit and spend quality time with your family.”  

She adds that the department has also started a campaign #comeoutandplay in order to emphasise the same. However, a tourist who requested anonymity opines that she found herself in trouble twice during her visit to the state. “I frequently travel to Kerala in connection with my research. However, once I stayed in a home stay and the manager there, a local guy wanted to put me in trouble, but luckily, I was suspicious and checked out of the home stay.” She further added that after a detailed search about the home stay where she was staying, she got to know that he was not an authorised agent and that he was not following the regulations.

Backing the same, Maneesha Panicker, owner of the Kayal Resort at Kakkathuruthu, a destination that has been listed in National Geographic’s Around the World in 24 Hours list, says that implementing strict regulations and ensuring that everyone follows it is what the government and the department need to do at the earliest, if they really value the recognitions the state has received. “There are many women, including me, who are involved in the tourism industry and I am sure that our state is the safest compared to places in North India. But finding stupid people is common irrespective of the destination and it is the responsibility of the traveler to not fall prey to fraudsters. One should conduct a thorough research about a place before the visit.  

Most travelers who come to Kerala know well about the state, check in to good hotels and opt for authorised travel agents. This will nullify the possibilities of fraud in the first place. The private sector is doing a great job in this regard and the government just has to check if the law and order is in place so that no tourist feels unsafe. Also the tourism department must take a step to educate and teach the local people how to deal with tourists without offending them ” Maneesha adds. People who run travel agencies, hotels and home stays are of the opinion that tourism prospects are never affected by a few isolated incidents. Deepthi, who runs the travel agency Take a Break, says that tourism can never be affected by such incidents and that people are ready to spend heavily on hotels and other facilities to ensure safety. “The five percentage increase in the rate of tourists in 2017 compared to 2016 clearly substantiates this,” she adds. If the isolated cases of violence against foreigners are put aside, which can be regulated if proper law and order comes in place, Kerala still continues to be one of the safest holiday destination. 

Previous honours
Munnar bagged the ‘best destination for romance’ award at the Lonely Planet Magazine India Travel Awards in 2017. 
Kerala won the ‘best family destination in India’ award in 2016. 
The Kerala Tourism Facebook page has secured the first place among Facebook tourism pages of all states across the country in 2017. 
Travel guide’s child-friendly destination ideal for family award in 2014. 
Kakkathuruthu, (Island of Crows) a spectacular tiny island on Kerala’s backwaters, has been listed in National Geographic's ‘Around the World in 24 Hours,’ a photographic tour of travel-worthy spots in the world.