The COVID-19 pandemic has sabotaged Kumarakom's efforts to transform itself into an international new-gen travel destination. Before the lockdown, the world-renowned tourism spot had been busy hosting MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) events and destination weddings. In fact, over one hundred top companies had booked all the resorts in Kumarakom for these gatherings in March and April this year.
However, after the COVID-19 restrictions as part of the lockdown were declared, each resort witnessed cancellation of at least three such bookings. Each booking for MICE earns a resort Rs 50,000 - Rs 10 lakh and the total amount involved is huge.
In addition, around 30 destination weddings were cancelled. “People used to spend between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 50 lakh for these wedding ceremonies,” points out secretary of the Chamber of Vembanad Hotels and Resorts Association K Arun Kumar.
According to state coordinator of Responsible Tourism Mission K Rupesh Kumar, as many as 1,200 foreign tourists had left Kumarakom following the lockdown and 1,800 others had cancelled their bookings.
Meanwhile, the houseboat sector, one of the biggest attractions in Kumarakom, is also bearing the brunt of the pandemic. “The houseboats used to be occupied on all days during the school vacations. There are over 200 vessels, including houseboats, ‘shikaras’ and motor boats in Kumarakom. Each of them has 3-5 employees who are now jobless. Moreover, many boat owners have to repay loans availed to buy their vessels,” says secretary of Kumarakom Houseboat Owners’ Society K Honey Gopal.
