Selling the rugged charms of monsoon in Kerala

 The Confident remark of the Zamorin of Kozhikode “They can’t seize our monsoons, can they?” when told that his tiny kingdom’s pepper shipments had been seized mid-sea by the Portuguese in Central Kerala in the 16th and 17th centuries.

It means the Portuguese colonialists could take away a few shipments containing black pepper, but not two monsoon seasons have nurtured abundant of pepper crops. And, that the monsoons would come, forever in every year comes.

Kerala tourism industry is a success story scripted by nature bounty and good marketing is now trying to make economic sense of the Zamorin’s confidence about the monsoons that Why not sell the rugged charm of the rains beeing a very good sense of question. The raindrops on tiled roofs, almost-erotic smell arising from the soil when the first rain falls on the earth, the vast beauty of backwaters in the afternoon, the music of the midnight rain, the roar of the wet storm etc.

Now Scores of tiny tourism entrepreneurs and also the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) are focusing on monsoon tourism. Kerala Tourism has now launched a marketing campaign which seeks to sell the romance of monsoons to young old and middle aged couples, KTDC has devised tour packages coupling the monsoon with ayurvedic rejuvenation treatment.

WAYANAD RAIN

The district of Wayanad, which borders Tamil Nadu and Karnataka is emerging as a centre for monsoon tourism. Wayanad Tourism set up to promote the district as a monsoon destination of attraction.

“We promote Wayanad as the destination to enjoy rain and associated excitements,” says Rajesh Kuttiyad( WTO member)

WTO setup a tourism event in July which Splash Wayanad with lots outdoor and indoor activities. Mud football, tree-climbing, kayaking, trekking, long-distance walk in the rain, commando-walking, off-roading and paddy-transplanting are some of the main activities. Jeep Club Wayanad is organising off-roading and skill-driving competitions in this July. 400 tour operators, travel writers and policy-makers from abroad and major Indian cities are expected to attend this year’s Splash Monsoon Carnival. They will show if Wayanad can be developed as a standalone destiny.

REMAINING DESTINATIONS

In Munnar in Idukki district(tea estates and spice gardens)

Kumarakom(houseboat)

Those visiting Keralam during the monsoons are mainly young people from South India and families from West Asia. Unlike KTDC, the private entrepreneurs look for domestic tourists. a home-stay owner in Kochi says “Keeping the guests engaged with innovative indoor and outdoor activities during monsoons is a challenge”