Wayanad tourism: As safety concerns prompt shutdown, community faces economic uncertainty

However, tragedy struck when Paul VP, a forest watcher at Kuruva Islands Eco Tourism Centre, met his untimely demise in a wild elephant attack near the tourism centre on 16 February.

In response, the Forest Department, a day later, closed all eco-tourism centres in Wayanad until further notice, citing safety concerns.

While the decision was necessary to prevent further tragedies, it left a trail of devastation.

Also read : Wild elephant electrocuted on private agricultural land in Wayanad

‘A devastating blow’

TR Mohanan, the president of the Vana Samrakshana Samithy (VVS) at Kuruvadweep, told South First that the closure meant uncertainty and financial strain for many families that depended entirely on the tourist centre.

“The pockets of 40 staff of the VVS, who are daily wage workers, are worryingly empty. A majority of them belong to the tribal community,” he noted.

“This is also the case of Kudumbashree workers, small traders, taxi drivers, tourist guides, and hotel-resort employees, among others,” added Mohanan.

He also said, “Many have families to support and loans to repay, and face an uncertain future because there are no alternative sources of income.”

Mohanan pointed out that the small-scale traders, whose livelihoods were intricately tied to tourist footfalls, were now grappling with dwindling sales and mounting debts.

He added that the plight was not limited to Kuruvadweep but to all the tourist centres in Wayanad.

“It was due to the human-wild animal conflict that the tourist centres were closed down. But the closure sent tremors through the local economy. The ripples spread far beyond the forest boundaries,” he said.

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Reopening in May?

According to Joli Narithookil, a member of the Kuruva ward of Pulpally Grama Panchayath, Kuruvadweep is likely to be reopened in May.

“As weeks have turned into months, a community has been brought to its knees by circumstances beyond its control,” Joli told South First.

“I hope they recover from the devastating blow when tourism restarts in May,” he added.

At the same time, Mohanan said the wait was likely to be longer as a case was pending before the Kerala High Court.

“The petition is still pending as the court has gone on its annual summer vacation. It’s only after the considered the petition that a call could be taken on reopening,” he explained.

Also Read: Kerala wins global tourism award for sustainable women-inclusive schemes

Helping Karnataka and Tamil Nadu?

Meanwhile, there were also allegations that the closure of tourist centres in Wayanad had helped Karnataka and Tamil Nadu as tourism stakeholders in those states were making hay as Wayanad remained shut.

“This is when Wayanad should be bustling with tourists. But unfortunately, many places wear a deserted look,” said Mohanan.

Some, who had an unholy nexus with tourism operators in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, managed to shut down our centres in the name of human-animal conflict,” he alleged.

Organisations like the Tourist Guides Association of Wayanad levelled similar allegations.

According to them, even though Wayanad in Kerala and neighbouring places in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka were affected by the human-wild animal conflict, only Wayand bore its brunt.

“The irony is that tourist centres of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu that share boundaries with Wayanad are operating without any restrictions,” said a member of the Tourist Guides Association Wayanad.

“Karnataka’s Bandipur National Park, Kabini tour, and Nagarhole National Park as well as Tamil Nadu’s Muthumalai tiger reserve are witnessing good tourist footfall,” added this individual.

Meanwhile, the Kerala Forest Department emphasised that the restrictions in Wayanad were necessary for the safety of both tourists and locals, and could be lifted only after careful consideration of various aspects.

(Edited by Arkadev Ghoshal)