labels: tourism, economy - general
Tourism sector affectednews
Our Economy Bureau
04 January 2005

The tsunami phenomenon has lashed the travel trade and hospitality sector with all beach resorts being declared out of bounds for the tourists. Tourism sources feared that the calamity in Kollam, Alappuzha and Kanyakumari districts will affect beach tourism, which has been the thrust area of Kerala Tourism over the years.

A majority of the tourists opt for 'sun and beach' packages and prefer to stay in beach resorts, especially in Kochi, Chowara, Kovalam, Varkala and Marari in Alappuzha. In and around Kovalam alone, there are 25 beach resorts.

The disaster has come as a shock at a time when the travel trade and hospitality sectors were anticipating a better tourist inflow this year in view of the good bookings. All the resorts and hotels, including budget hotels, were fully booked till the middle of January next.

Travel trade sources said cancellations had been reported mainly in hotels dotting the beaches in Kovalam, resort at Marari and backwater resorts. A coastal alert had been issued taking into account the safety of the tourists and life-guards had been posted round-the-clock in all major beaches frequented by tourists. All beach resorts had been asked not to allow tourists to enter the beach and to venture into the sea in view of the alert issued by the authorities.


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Tourism sector affected