Coronavirus scare hits Kerala's tourism sector, triggers wave of cancellations

Amid a global coronavirus scare and with all three positive cases of epidemic in country being reported in Kerala, sourn state has been pounded with mass cancellations of hotel bookings and tour packs.

A senior official of state Tourism Department said exact number of cancellations was t yet available, but agreed that repeated instances of floods and epidemics were affecting industry.

"As of w, exact numbers are t available. But industry sources told us that many hotel bookings, including that of KTDC (Kerala Tourism Development Corporation), have been cancelled," official told PTI.

KTDC help desks at various centres were receiving enquiries from people wanting to kw situation in state, he said.

"As of w, situation in Kerala is under control. re is need to worry. But still people are worried and some have cancelled ir bookings," official said.

"re are 15-20 per cent cancellations after reporting of coronavirus cases. But re are bookings also," Jose Dominic, CEO of CGH Earth Group of Hotels, told PTI.

"We (Kerala) have a reputation that we will put travellers' health first before commercial interest," he added.

Travel and tour operators, however, fear state's tourism sector is likely to be severely hit, especially because Kerala government has declared outbreak a 'state calamity' and Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran recently admitted that sector has suffered a setback.

E M Najeeb, senior vice president, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO),

said tour programmes and packs are being cancelled widely in state and

declaration of epidemic as a 'state calamity' by government would adversely impact ecomic situation.

"We completely appreciate steps taken by government to protect infected persons, create awareness among public and tackle situation. But as far as tourism industry is concerned, such measures will scare people. t only tourism, all business activities of state will be affected," Najeeb told PTI.

One of most sought after tourist destinations in South Asia, 'God's Own Country' has been hit by coronavirus just as it was recovering from Nipah outbreak and two consecutive monsoon floods during last two years, worst in a century.

According to those associated with tourism in state, government had aggressively launched promotional advertisements in domestic and international markets after floods to revive sector.

Kerala's serene beaches, tranquil stretches of backwaters, lush hill stations and exotic wildlife offer an enchanting experience to travellers worldwide and tourism

industry is a major contributor to state's ecomy. It accounts for over 10 per cent of GSDP (gross state domestic product) and provides employment to over 1.5 million people in state.

peak season for foreign tourists is from vember-February while for domestic guests it is during April-May, August-September and December-January.

According to Tourism department sources, during 2019 calendar year, it was projected that re would be an 18 per cent growth in domestic and 8 per cent in foreign tourist arrivals.

In first nine months of 2019 (January to September), domestic visitors to sourn state increased by 16.48 per cent as against a 4.8 per cent rise in foreign tourists' arrivals.

According to T K Manzoor, managing director of Bekal Resorts Development Corporation (BRDC), despite floods and Nipah, re was a remarkable 40 per cent growth in foreign tourist arrivals in 2019 up to September in rth Kerala's Kasaragod and Kannur districts.

"We hope to man present catastrophic situation. In coming fiscal, Malabar Tourism is expected to record an uptrend though more efforts have to be put in," he said.

Praveen Muraleedharan, an entrepreneur who runs a couple of resorts in state, said uncertainty loomed over industry due to health scare.

"We are getting lots of cancellations. Many confirmed hotel bookings, events and conferences have got cancelled. Industry is extremely worried about business. We don't kw from when we can start taking bookings," he said.

Muraleedharan said industry was in past affected by 'hartals' (strikes), floods and Nipah.

"Earlier 'hartals' used to affect our industry. Even w, situation is t different. Sabarimala protests, two consecutive floods and landslides in Wayanad, Nipah, anti-CAA

protests and w coronavirus. All are directly affecting tourism industry. Inflow

of tourists and domestic tourism are affected," he said.

Three medical students from state studying in Wuhan University in China have tested positive for infection and 2,528 people have been put under home quarantine. Ninety-three people are in isolation wards in various hospitals across state, according to latest official figures.

three positive cases have been detected in Thrissur, Alapuzha and Kasaragod. PTI RRT LGK UD VS ROH RDM

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