Backwater tourism kerala

While other forms of tourist attractions are found aplenty in different parts ofIndia, the extensive backwaters are a distinct feature of Kerala, providing aunique opportunity for positioning as an exotic tourism product. The geographicalexpanse of the backwaters also makes it convenient and conducive to spreadtourism activity across the State, thus dispersing accompanying economicbenefits and mitigating the negative impacts.At present, most backwater resorts and houseboats are at the high end of theprice spectrum and consequently out of reach of the average tourist, bothdomestic and foreign. Just as hotel accommodation and other facilities areavailable at various price points, the same should eventually happen withbackwater tourism facilities as well. But the numbers and quality of facilitieswould have to be regulated, keeping in view the local carrying capacity indifferent places of tourist concentration. (This issue is applicable to almost allforms of tourism and practically to the whole of India. A densely populated thirdworld country presenting numerous problems and squalid environs to the touristcannot expect to attract high-spending foreign tourists in bountiful numbers.Offerings at various price segments are necessary in each category to attract aviable number of tourists, without compromising on basic standards.)One of the components of backwater tourism is the development of suitableislands in the backwaters to provide resort accommodation, recreation and otherfacilities. While progress has been made on developing Gundu and Pathiramanalislands, there are reportedly about 30 comparable islands in different parts ofKerala, some of them under private ownership. The development potential ofsome of these islands could be suitably capitalized upon in due course.A part of the West Coast Canal has been declared as National Waterway No.3.Priorities for development, rehabilitation or deepening/widening of this waterwayand other canals would have to be decided by evaluating the combined benefitsthrough use for tourism, inland water transport and irrigation.The Kerala Government has a proposal for comprehensive and integrateddevelopment of the backwaters across the entire state, which is likely to costaround Rs.3000 crores, and may need to be implemented with funding frominternational agencies. The backwaters have reportedly shrunk to about one-thirdtheir original extent over the last century, due to various developmental activities.The backwater areas are also subject to CRZ regulations. A systematicdevelopment plan as proposed is therefore quite in order, so as to ensuresustainable and eco-friendly development and utilisation of the backwaters.Many of the principal tourist attractions in Kerala are close to the coast.Therefore, feasibility of organising coastal cruise ship tours can also be exploredin due course, depending on suitability of port facilities and market potential. Thisproject would have to be implemented with private sector/foreign investment.