Kerala tourism incurs Rs 2,100 crore loss due to floods

Kochi: The tourism sector, the fastest growing industry in the state, has incurred a loss of Rs 2,100 crore during the devastating floods.

Tourism director P. Bala Kiran on Monday said the preliminary estimate of the industry in terms of infrastructure and business loss is around Rs 2,000 crore.

Apart from this, the state government-owned tourism properties have incurred an estimated loss of around Rs 80-100 crore.

“This is the preliminary estimates made available by the industry representatives during a meeting on August 23,” Mr Kiran told DC.

Munnar and backwater tourism areas in Alappuzha are the worst hit places, according to industry representatives.  

The tourist season for the current year may be delayed in some of the worst-hit areas.

“We are not rushing into the commencement of the season,” he said.  

The tourism season in the state begins in October and peaks in December-January before fading out by February-March.

Industry sources said the bookings for the August-September months were completely washed out.

The restoration of infrastructure networks such as roads has to be undertaken on a war footing for the season to begin in October.  

Johnny Abraham George, chairman and managing director of Intersight Tours and Travels Ltd, said the industry had requested the government to restore road connectivity as early as possible.

Munnar, the most sought after hill destination in the state, remained largely cut-off by a series of landslides since August 15.

The hill station is the mainstay of domestic tourism, and the delay in getting back to normalcy will have a severe impact, Mr George said.

Alappuzha-Munnar and Kumarakom-Munnar circuits are the most popular destinations amongst the travellers from North and Western Indian states.

The resorts in Kumarakom are busy cleaning their premises on a war footing ahead of the season, industry sources said.