Kerala's inland waterways

Inland waterways: Kerala's lifeline


Anyone who has travelled even a minor distance in Kerala will quickly realise the importance of inland waterways for the State's economy and culture.

Not only are they the lifeline for the people who live along the backwaters, they are also the focal point for the thriving tourism industry that has grown up by utilising the natural charms offered by Kerala's inland waterway system.

Once, the inland waterways were the mainstay of trade as well, with kettuvallams laden with rice and other goods traversing the stretches of backwaters, especially in the Kuttanad area, then the rich rice bowl of Kerala.

Today the inland waterway system is in a state of disuse and neglect. This is a pity as a recent study by the Thiruvananthapuram-based National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC) says that Kerala's inland waterways have the potential to be a low-cost transport option for the State as well as a major source of employment.

Officially, the inland waterways in Kerala stretch to a length of 1,687 km, corresponding to 11.6 percentage of a total of 14,544 km in the country. The major stretch is the West Coast Canal connecting Hosdurg in the north and Poovar, near Thrivananthapuram in the south, which has a length of 560 km.

However, the NATPAC study says Kerala has over 1,800 km of navigable stretches. The sector directly employs between 1.5 lakh and 2 lakh people in the operation and maintenance of boats, and for each person directly employed, at least two others are indirectly employed in allied activities such as boat building, servicing of boats, tourism and so on, the study adds.

Malabar Marvels

Untapped marvels of Malabar

As in most other spheres of development, the northern parts of Kerala - often collectively referred to as Malabar - have suffered from a lack of attention in the case of a potentially lucrative area of business - tourism.

Given the overemphasis on the central and southern parts of the State by Kerala's tourism planners, few travellers realise that the Malabar area has as much - if not more - to offer in terms of sights and experiences, often of the adventure variety.

Thus, apart from beaches and backwaters (yes, Malabar is home to some of Kerala's most scenic, yet unexplored backwaters, normally only associated with the Kuttanad area of central Kerala), the Malabar area abounds with forests and mountains that offer the perfect escape for the nature enthusiast and serious eco-traveller.

Many private hoteliers and tour operators have already cashed in on these unique advantages, setting up exotic treetop getaways, plantation theme resorts, jungle lodges and trekking trails. But most of them are small, single-owner units with limited rooms and capacity, catering to a niche and exclusive clientele. They neither have the international reach nor the market.

The potential of the region notwithstanding, even the initial government initiated tourism moves in Malabar have often floundered. Consider Bekal, once touted as the pioneering path-breaker for the travel and tourism trade in Malabar. Not long ago, the Bekal Resorts Development Corporation Ltd (BRDC) announced plans for three five-star resorts at Kappil, Uduma and Chembikkara, as well as the construction of 33 roads in the 190-odd acres that constitute the area of the Bekal project.

Kovalam: A dying destination?

Is Kovalam dying as a destination?

Late November 2003 saw the arrival of the first chartered flight of tourists from Gatwick in the UK, many of whom were more than pleasantly surprised at the effusive and elaborate welcome that greeted them on arrival at God's Own Country. Happily ensconced in the balmy ambience of Kovalam, these British sunworshipers felt they had got more than they had bargained for when they signed up for the holiday to Kerala. However, a similar happiness was nowhere in sight amongst the various traders and shopkeepers in Kovalam.

According to one report, of the 230 tourists who arrived by the chartered flight, hardly 50 came down to soak in the sun's rays on the Light House and Eve's beaches. As hawkers and beggars outnumber tourists on Kovalam's beaches, most of the restaurants, call centres, Internet kiosks and handicraft shops wear forlorn looks.

As hoteliers and merchants await the arrival of the second chartered flight to boost sagging sales in the once-famed international beach resort, the State Government has unfurled plans to build walkways, public toilets and other amenities for tourists who arrive at Kovalam. But whether they are on the right track is a very moot question, for the sorry fact is that once a beach resort becomes a charter destination, it is on its way to eternal doom. This is what has been happening to Kovalam for the past few years.

The World Tourism Organization identifies the major new trend in tourism as a greater diversification of tourist development in established tourist destinations. Traditional sun-sea-sand destinations are actively developing and promoting other aspects of their countries attractions. Consider Spain (winter sports, cultural heritage), Mexico (natural and historical resources), and Fiji (flora and fauna, volcanic formations, people, traditions, culture and history), to name just three examples of diversifying countries.

Endogenous tourism

Endogenous tourism aims to harness the traditional skills of rural artisans.

In December 2003, buried in the inside pages of some newspapers, was a small story about a possible initiative that could augur well for Kerala's future. Aranmula, a tiny, sleepy hamlet on the banks of the Pamba river in Pathanamthitta district, might become one of the sites to feature in the Endogenous Tourism Project of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). A team from the Government of India has just completed a visit to assess Aranmula's suitability for inclusion in the project, and a decision is likely to be made soon.