Foreign tourists hit hurdles in Kerala due to coronavirus scare

With Kerala on high alert for coronavirus, foreign tourists visiting God's Own Country are finding it difficult to get accommodation and move around, prompting government to disapprove of such acts and ask people t to see every foreigner as a COVID-19 carrier.

With two people, including a UK national, testing positive for coronavirus on Sunday, number of those affected in state has risen to 21 as government began a "break chain" initiative to prevent spre of virus.

It has also launched intensified medical check up at border areas for people entering state by rail and ro.

Amid stepped up preventive measures, several cases of foreigners being 'denied' travel in public transport systems and stay in hotels have been reported in past few days from various parts of state, a major attraction for travellers with its picturesque locales and enchanting backwaters.

Cautioning against such acts, Kerala Tourism Minister Kakampally Surendran described overseas visitors as "our friends" and 'guests" and called for a change of mindset of some people who allegedly treat m as carriers of coronavirus.

On Sunday, authorities were forced to shift two foreign nationals to a quarantine facility at a government hospital in nearby Pala after ir co-passengers in a state-owned transport corporation bus raised an alarm.

two from Spain were travelling in bus when police stopped it at Kuravilang in Kottayam district after co-passengers said y could t travel with m due to coronavirus threat, according to official sources.

tourists were n taken to a government hospital for check-up by police.

Though two were vised to remain in quarantine for 14 days, y were allegedly denied stay in a hotel or lodge in area.

Police later shifted m to quarantine facility set up in general hospital in Pala, sources said.

A foreign tourist visiting scenic Wagamon hill station bordering Kottayam and Idukki district allegedly slept in cemetery of a church after he was denied lodging facility due to COVID-19 pandemic. People visiting church for attending Sunday morning mass reportedly saw tourist coming out of cemetery.

However, he could t be traced despite a search being launched, police said.

Speaking at a function in Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram district, Minister said foreign tourists are "our guests" and y are flocking to state thanks to global marketing campaign launched by Tourism department.

ting that tourism industry was backbone of Kerala's ecomy, Surendran said arrival of tourists to state was necessary for state's growth.

"Tourism industry contributes 10 per cent of Kerala's GDP. During last fiscal, total revenue collected from tourism sector alone stands at Rs 45,000 crores. It is 24 per cent higher than previous year. sector also provides jobs for 15 lakh people, directly or indirectly", he said.

" tendency of seeing foreign tourists as coronavirus carriers must change. y are t our enemies. y are our friends. For us, y are our guests. So our mindset towards m should change", he ded.

Representative Im