Surge in COVID sends shock waves in tourism sector
[ad_1]
The backwater tourism sector has hardly recovered from the scars left by the primary wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, when it’s watching one other headwind as a result of a spike in COVID-19 circumstances.
With a dip in vacationer movement, the stakeholders concern the second COVID-19 wave would spell doom for the sector, which had confronted quite a few setbacks in current instances in the type of Cyclone Ockhi, the Nipah outbreak, floods and the pandemic.
Sagar S., a houseboat proprietor in Alappuzha, says he’s discovering it tough to maintain the enterprise afloat in the face of recurring setbacks. “After the COVID-19-induced lockdown, the sector was on the path of revival. We did some good business during the Easter period. But with COVID-19 rearing its head again and the government tightening restrictions, we are now a worried lot. Any lockdown like in the previous year or halting of houseboat operations will be the final nail in the sector’s coffin,” says Mr. Sagar.
For over six months
The houseboat sector was among the many first to return to a grinding halt after the outbreak began to comb the world early final 12 months. The houseboats remained anchored for greater than six months earlier than the federal government allowed the sector to renew operations in October 2020. In the absence of overseas vacationers, the sector is relying on home vacationers, a majority of them coming from the Malabar area, to outlive.
No enquiries, bookings
Kevin Rozario, a houseboat proprietor, who can also be the overall secretary of the All Kerala Houseboat Owners and Operators Samiti, says there are hardly any enquiries or bookings in current days. “With COVID-19 second wave sweeping different parts of the country, we are witnessing a dip in tourist footfalls. We are getting zero visitors from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh or Tamil Nadu. The tightening of curbs like mandatory quarantine is not helping either. The holy month of Ramadan, which is set to begin this week, will see tourists from the Malabar region too stopping their trips. We are bracing for tough times,” Mr. Rozario says.
Apart from houseboats, shikara operators, homestays and lodges too are anxious about their future.
In disaster
“There were signs of revival. But the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the business into crisis. We do not expect a rise in business activity any time soon,” says Tomy Thomas, managing director, Arcadia Regency, Alappuzha.
[ad_2]
