Covid-19: Tourism sector seeks Kerala CM's intervention

KOZHIKODE: Stakeholders in the tourism industry in Malabar have requested the chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to immediately intervene to salvage the sector which is facing serious crisis after the spread of Covid-19.


Malabar Tourism Society president MPM Mubashir and general secretary Sajan VC have submitted a memorandum to the government detailing the issues and immediate measures to be taken to overcome the crisis.

The memorandum pointed out that the loss of revenue in tourism sector in Wayanad district itself would come around Rs 547 crore this year . "The number of tourists in February 2020 has dwindled by half compared to last year. This had come down to 10 per cent in March," the memorandum said.

The memorandum said that huge investment was pumped to Wayanad in the last one-and-a-half decade after 2000. The district has become the centre of eco-friendly and adventure tourism.

The office-bearers of the Malabar Tourism Society felt that it would take more than one year for the industry to return to normalcy.

"Considering the gravity of the situation, we urge you to intervene to revive the sector," the memorandum urged the chief minister.

The suggestions put forwards by them include soft loan from banks for entrepreneurs, declaration of moratorium for one year, announcement of subsidy, cut in electricity tariff and relaxation in various taxes.

Copy of the memorandum has been sent to minister for tourism Kadakampally Surendran, tourism secretary Rani George and P Balakiran, director of tourism.

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