international travel groups call for courtesy tour

Alappuzha: Tourism may be down but not out in Kerala as international  travel groups have called upon backpackers to tour the state to help it rebuild itself after the floods.

“If southern India has been on your travel wishlist, now is the time to go. Rather than avoiding the state (Kerala) following the disaster, we encourage our travellers to do the exact opposite beca-use bringing tourism income to a devastated community is the best way to help it recover,” said Sue Badyari, CEO, World Expeditions, a major travel group in Australia. The comment came in an article published on August 30 in Australia- based ‘Travel weekly’, which said "tourism is the lifeline to recovery (of Kerala).” The website of World Expeditions has also published an article titled ‘Why you should still travel to Kerala,’ explaining the present situation in the state.

“The state of Kerala is one of our favourite destinations and now, more than ever, Keralites need your support. Its relaxed pace, the warmth of the local people, the outstanding food, fascinating history, exciting wildlife sanctuaries and the treasure chest of beautiful, natural environment – from picturesque coasts to the highlands carpeted in tea plantations – provide travellers with colourful and inspiring memories. For those who have considered a trip to southern India, and even travellers looking for new destinations to discover, now is the time to push Kerala to the top of your bucket list. The resilience of the local people was evident immediately after the recent devastating floods, with the clean-up beginning in earnest and many businesses are expected to re-open by September 1. The trickle-down economic benefits of travel help will support so many local people,” the article said.   

Alappuzha, the hub of houseboat tourism suffered huge losses after the backwater tourism sector came to a standstill.