During Onam, Wayanad’s tourism usually thrives, but landslides and closed attractions have caused a severe downturn, impacting livelihoods.
Published Sep 17, 2024 | 12:26 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 17, 2024 | 12:26 PM
Wayanad - courtesy - Kerala Tourism
The Onam season is usually a time of hope and revival for Kerala’s tourism sector, especially in regions like Wayanad, which is known for its rolling hills, wildlife, waterfalls, and scenic beauty.
Every year, this festive period sees a surge in tourists, with educational institutions closed and families taking advantage of public holidays.
But this year, a bleak emptiness has engulfed Wayanad.
The district, which relies heavily on tourism for its livelihood, is facing an unprecedented downturn, brought on by the devastating landslides and the closure of major tourist centres.
A series of landslides on 30 July left more than 330 people dead. Several people are still missing.
Once a thriving hub during the holiday season, Wayanad now finds its tourism sector in shambles, affecting the livelihoods of hundreds of people.
Talking to South First, CP Sailesh, Secretary of Wayanad Tourism Organisation, a non-profit organisation, said, “The tourism sector here is struggling.”
Wayanad-Ooty Road via Meppadi. The district charms with its exquisite landscape. (Sourced)
Typically Wayanad tourism witnesses advance booking from domestic and out-of-state visitors, stakeholders report a stark contrast this year, with tourist footfalls falling below five percent of the normal. Most bookings were made at the last minute.
“The economic fallout from Wayanad’s tourism slump has been severe. Hotels and homestays that are typically full during this season now stand empty. Many small businesses that rely on tourism are feeling the pinch, with some even facing the threat of closure,” said Sailesh.
He pointed out that this time of year is usually crucial for advanced bookings, especially from the Bengaluru-Chennai-Hyderabad belt.
“This time of the year, around 40 to 60 percent of the annual business happens. Now, it’s barely a fraction of the normal,” added Sailesh.
“Normally, we are fully booked. Now, our occupancy rate is abysmally low. Even local tourists are avoiding Wayanad. It’s been very tough,” he said.
Sailesh pointed out that restaurants, souvenir shops, and local craftsmen are also hit. The local economy has seen a significant dip in revenues, leaving businesses in dire straits. The festive cheer associated with Onam is conspicuously absent in Wayanad, with local businesses struggling to keep their doors open.
“The closure of around eight tourist centres in the district, following a Kerala High Court directive in the wake of the death of a forest watcher in a wild elephant attack in February, didn’t directly affect the sector. We had occupancy rate despite the closure. But post landslides, the flow of tourists has been weak,” said Sailesh.
The Covid-19 pandemic had also taken on toll on Wayanad tourism. International tourist arrivals dipped to 1,967 in 2022 from 12,302 in 2019.
Sailesh opined that tourism operators believe that one of the key reasons for the decline in tourists is a lack of sufficient promotion by Kerala Tourism.
“It’s high time Kerala Tourism stepped up its promotional efforts, particularly outside Kerala. The Bengaluru market is essential, but the government has yet to take enough action in that direction. We are hopeful, as Tourism Minister PA Mohammad Riyas is scheduled to visit Wayanad on 17 September with plans for a promotional programme by 40 vloggers. But more needs to be done,” he opined.
The minister has reached Wayanad on Monday, 16 September. “Let’s reclaim our Wayanad,” he said in a Facebook post while urging others to visit the district.
An equally pressing issue is the perception that Wayanad is a disaster-prone region.
Wayanad. (Kerala Tourism)
“While only three percent of Wayanad has been affected by landslides, people are under the impression that the entire district is unsafe. In reality, 97 percent of the district is perfectly fine for tourism. We need to work hard to correct this misconception,” emphasised an ecotourism operator.
Adding to the confusion, several popular ecotourism centres in Wayanad remain closed, leading visitors to question what’s left to see.
“There’s no shortage of beautiful places here, but without clear messaging, tourists are confused over what’s open and what isn’t,” said another tourism operator.
R Radhakrishnan, Chairman of the Coordination Committee of the Tourism Association of Wayanad, a consortium of nine tourism-related associations in Wayanad told South First: “Wayanad will recover from the slump that the landslide inflicted. But it might take time. But the pressing issue is the closure of the eight prominent ecotourism centres in Wayanad. We see no apparent reason for this setback, especially when similar centres in nearby districts and other states are operating without issues.”
He further added that “The ecotourism centres in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are functioning smoothly, even those are close to our district. For instance, the Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary, which is just 15 kilometers from Nagarhole in Karnataka, remains closed, while Nagarhole is fully operational. The Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary is closed as well, but a 10-kilometer drive will take you to the Bandipur or Theppakadu wildlife tourist centres, which face no such issues.”
“In other districts, ecotourism centres are fully functional, yet in Wayanad, we remain in limbo. We are not getting any clear answers as to why they are closed,” Radhakrishnan pointed out.
The prolonged downturn has affected not only direct stakeholders like resorts and tour operators but also those indirectly linked to the sector. Stakeholders are calling for a swift government intervention to reopen the remaining ecotourism centres and strong campaigns to rebuild Wayanad’s image as a safe and desirable destination.
“Many livelihoods depend on this industry, both directly and indirectly. The government must work on reopening centres and relaunch a focused promotional campaign. We need to remind visitors that Wayanad is as beautiful and welcoming as ever,” a local tour guide urged.
While the Responsible Tourism Mission under Kerala Tourism is recommending Wayanad as a safe destination spot, minister Riyas himself has taken up the mission to build confidence among tourists.
“The priority is to address the lukewarm response from the tourists. A specialised campaign – Revisit Wayanad – will be launched within and outside the state. The role of vloggers will be important to spread the message. If needed international level campaign will also be launched,” a Tourist Department official told South First.
However, the question remains whether these efforts will be enough to uplift the somber mood of Wayanad’s tourism sector and help the district regain its position as a must-visit destination in Kerala.
(Edited by Ananya Rao).
