THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Tourism in the state has seen a paradigm shift in the nature of tourists after recession hit the European economy. There was a marked decline in the number of foreign tourists visiting the state in 2009, though last year saw an increase in the number. Now, the tourism industry in Kovalam depends heavily on domestic tourists, especially North Indians. According to the statistics of 2010, as many as 1,08,639 foreign tourists visited Kovalam. Destinations in Kochi received 1,16,536 foreigners last year. As many as 6,59,265 foreign tourists and 85,95,075 domestic tourists reached the state last year. The average duration of stay of a foreign tourist in the state was 16 days, while it was six for a domestic tourist. “Recession has caused a drastic decline in the flow of charter flights to the state. Foreigners, who came here for around two weeks, have cut short their days to two-four now days,’’ said Satish, a hotelier at Kovalam. He says the tourism industry in Kovalam is now relying on North Indian tourists, who are ready to shell out even ` 4,000 as room rent. “They would spend only two days in Kovalam. Tour operators from Mumbai, Delhi, Gujarat etc plan their itinerary, which includes Kovalam, Alappuzha or Kottayam, Thekkady, Munnar and Kochi,” he added. Benedict Wilfred, owner of Beatles restaurant, said that North Indians spend more compared to the foreigners. “A North Indian couple would spend ` 14,000 for two nights in a house boat, while a foreigner won’t prefer to spend that big an amount. For the North Indian tourists who reach Thiruvananthapuram, Kanyakumari and Kovalam beaches are their preferred destinations. They won’t miss a dip at Kanyakumari and a visit to Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. They rarely go to Varkala,” he said. “Foreign tourists who reach Kovalam might also visit Kanyakumari or Madurai. Backwaters in Poovar and Ponmudi and Neyyar Dam are also part of the itinerary of the foreign tourists reaching Kovalam. Rarely do they go to Thiruvanathapuram city. Varkala is the favourite destination of the backpackers,” Wilfred said.Highly affluent foreigners would choose independent resorts and would spend two weeks. They would also opt for Ayurvedic treatment and occasionally go for sight-seeing, he added.According to Yousaf Mohammed, who runs Focus Kerala, a tourist information centre, sight-seeing, sun bath and village tourism are the main activities of European tourists. “Apart from beach tourism, foreigners are also interested in village tourism. They like to see fishing harbour, paddy fields, village backwaters etc. Thiruvallom was once the favourite village destination. It lost its lustre owing to the pollution of the river Karamana. Now, Poovar has replaced Thiruvallom,” he said.
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