Kumarakom (Kottayam): After facing setbacks caused by floods and the pandemic, tourism in Kumarakom is making a strong comeback. With the holiday season approaching, most resorts in the area are fully booked, and preparations are in full swing to welcome tourists. The resorts have completed repairs, fresh paintwork, and garden beautification in time for the celebrations, with festive cake mixing events adding to the holiday spirit.
Hotel bookings soar
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Hotel bookings in the area have already exceeded 80 percent, according to Harikrishnan, president of the Chamber of Vembanad Hotels and Resorts. More than 50 percent of these bookings are from international tourists. Kumarakom boasts 900 rooms across 24 resorts and 150 houseboats across multiple jetties, over 100 shikara motorboats, and more than 20 premium homestays to cater to the influx of visitors this season.
Environmental concerns impact Kerala's tourism image
Despite the tourism boom in Kumarakom, Kerala’s overall travel reputation has been affected by environmental concerns. US-based Fodors Travel has removed Kerala from its list of top recommended destinations, placing it on their "no list" due to ongoing issues such as pollution and landslides. Kerala is one of the 12 destinations moved to the 'no list,' alongside Everest.
In the seven years since 2015, Kerala has accounted for 60 percent of the landslides in India. Fodors highlighted the environmental degradation of the Vembanad Lake, India’s largest wetland ecosystem, as a key concern. The increasing pollution, illegal construction, floods, and the overexploitation of natural resources for tourism are taking a toll on the fragile ecosystem and local communities.
Fodors Travel’s “no list” is not meant to label these destinations as unworthy of attention, but rather to serve as a reminder of the urgent need for sustainable development. The organisation urges the identification and resolution of these environmental issues to ensure that Kerala remains a viable and attractive destination for tourists in the future.
Published: 25 Nov 2024, 11:33 am IST
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