File photo of houseboats sailing through the placid waters of Vembanad Lake in Kumarakom.
| Photo Credit: VISHNU PRATHAP
As monsoon clouds darken the Vembanad backwaters, tourism industry in Kumarakom is keeping its fingers crossed over developments in the Persian Gulf, as a prolonged conflict there has stalled the arrival of Arab tourists who had emerged as the backbone of its business during monsoon.
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After a subdued summer season battered by scorching temperatures, the backwater destination is now banking on a revival in July and August. Yet, even as June gets under way, stakeholders say the influx of travellers from the Gulf is nowhere in sight.
According to Manoj Kumar K.V., general secretary of the Chamber of Vembanad Hotels and Resorts, the uncertainty has been compounded by changing travel patterns. ”The concept of ‘business on the books’ has almost come to naught in Kumarakom. People are increasingly planning their holidays at the last minute. The movement of Arab tourists has come down by nearly one-third. Apart from the war situation, high airfares have also been a factor. At the same time, expensive international travel is helping drive the domestic tourism market,” he said.
The mood in the sector is reflected in the Responsible Tourism Mission’s cautious approach this year. The mission, which usually launches a range of monsoon-specific programmes and packages, is yet to finalise its strategy for the season. “The numbers are not at all encouraging and that is one reason for the delay. Fresh packages could be introduced once arrivals begin to improve,” said a source associated with the sector.
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With international arrivals remaining sluggish, the industry is now pinning its hopes on travellers from north India. To attract them, the premium hospitality segment has rolled out monsoon packages and curated experiences designed to showcase Kumarakom.
Curated packages
”We have curated special packages for this monsoon season. In addition to offering a 15% to 20% discount on room tariffs, we have included wellness packages centred on Ayurveda. These are expected to be particularly attractive to domestic travellers,” said K. Arunkumar, manager of a premium property in Kumarakom.
They have also lined up a range of monsoon-themed activities, including e-cycle rides through the countryside and lakeside rain experiences.
Hotels are also targeting the corporate segment through staycation packages tailored for companies, besides special packages under the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) segment. Several resorts have also launched honeymoon packages aimed at couples seeking a romantic monsoon getaway.
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Not everyone in the tourism sector, however, is equally optimistic. Houseboat operators, for whom the rainy season has traditionally been a lean period, are not expecting any significant turnaround.
“The limited number of premium visitors who arrive during this period mostly stay at hotels and resorts. Therefore, we are not looking at this season with much expectation,” said David P.S., president of the Houseboat Owners Welfare Society.
Tourism stakeholders, meanwhile, believe Kerala must do more to reinforce its position as a premier monsoon destination. ”Tourism marketing in Kerala is now largely confined to digital advertisements and stakeholder meetings. There remains a significant gap between the ideas being discussed and concrete action on the ground,” said a tourism official.
Published – June 01, 2026 07:15 pm IST
