Kerala: Tourist charters might touch down from next season

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Like it has been the case for the last many years, tourist charters will not touch the capital's tarmac this year. But it might, next season. The recession-hit tourism industry in Kovalam has dusted off its proposal to woo back the charters in association with the state government. The proposal states that the industry and the state should jointly pay up the parking charges and passenger fees that are now being borne by the charters.

The aim is to bring in charters from Ukraine. Though it had traditionally shown reluctance, the Tourism Department is said to have given its in-principle nod for the proposal. The tourism industry, especially in Kovalam, has already entered into talks with Concord Exotic Voyages, which is already operating Ukraine charters to Goa.

"If the industry feels that such sops will tip the balance in the destination's favour, we will not stand in the way," a top Tourism Department source said. The industry wants the Tourism Department to bear the parking charge of Rs 1.6 lakh per charter. As for the entry fee of Rs 750 per passenger in a flight, it will be shared by the hotels and resorts in which the passengers are lodged. If for instance a resort gets 20 of the passengers from a charter, it will have to shell out Rs 15,000 (i.e. 750 x 20) of the passenger fee. On an average, each charter flies in 120-130 tourists.

The British charters have stopped coming for the last eight years. Russian charters tested the waters for two consecutive seasons but had decided against resuming operations. "The burden of parking charges and passenger fees were mentioned by the charters as reasons for their indifference," a top industry source said. It is also a fact that financial crisis has hit the Russian tourism industry hard, many of its leading tour operators like Pegas Touristik bearing the brunt.

The incentive is not just to bring back the Russian charters, it is intended as a welcome sign to European charters that had long left Kovalam's shores. "We are trying to tell the charters that they are wanted here in large volumes," said Jacob Plathottam, a restauranteer.  "I am sure the charter companies will respond favourably," he added.