Jisha Surya
First Published : 13 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Seeking the elephant’s blessings by standing in attention before its extended trunk is a common past-time for tourists who reach Kerala. What if the next one month witnesses tour operators offering another unique selling proposition: a typical politician clad in white - khadi or other similarly passable material - coming up to the wide-eyed tourist standing at attention before her with folded hands.
Can this ever become a ‘say cheese’ moment for tourists who reach the state during this election? There is scope to probe this for niche positioning, admits KTDC chairman Cheriyan Philip. “Election tourism can help to bring some additional revenue to the tourism industry during off season. A package for two weeks from April 1 to April 15 is a really marketable idea. Since it is off season, a considerable discount can also be offered,” says the KTDC chief. One is talking about a package that combines some of the regular tourist spots in the state with the door-to-door campaigning and the general festive air that goes into the making of a typical day for a candidate in that particular region. Many tourists coming into God’s Own Country from Europe and the US may get bowled over, especially if it comes with a hefty discount. But the fact remains that no tour operator in the state has tried to woo foreign travellers with the idea of ‘election tourism’ so far. “Foreign tourists tend to be amazed by the mood of celebration that one gets to see in India during the poll campaign period, quite in contrast to the sober run-up to the poll in many developed nations. But except for academicians, not many come here for the sole purpose of watching the election,” says Chandrahasan, executive director of Kerala Travels Interserve. According to political scientist Dr G Gopakumar, foreigners, especially from Australia, Canada, the US and the UK have come here to study elections in the past. “Most of them are students and academicians. They study the elections, interview candidates and voters. Then they produce brilliant papers on Kerala polls,” he says. “But the e-age makes such travel redundant. Another reason is India’s changed status.
During March-April, normally Kerala hosts more North Indian tourists than foreigners. Perhaps, that will change if tour operators take a cue from what the KTDC chairman says and starts wooing the westerns to Kerala shores with the promise of a memorable “election holiday package.”
First Published : 13 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Seeking the elephant’s blessings by standing in attention before its extended trunk is a common past-time for tourists who reach Kerala. What if the next one month witnesses tour operators offering another unique selling proposition: a typical politician clad in white - khadi or other similarly passable material - coming up to the wide-eyed tourist standing at attention before her with folded hands.
Can this ever become a ‘say cheese’ moment for tourists who reach the state during this election? There is scope to probe this for niche positioning, admits KTDC chairman Cheriyan Philip. “Election tourism can help to bring some additional revenue to the tourism industry during off season. A package for two weeks from April 1 to April 15 is a really marketable idea. Since it is off season, a considerable discount can also be offered,” says the KTDC chief. One is talking about a package that combines some of the regular tourist spots in the state with the door-to-door campaigning and the general festive air that goes into the making of a typical day for a candidate in that particular region. Many tourists coming into God’s Own Country from Europe and the US may get bowled over, especially if it comes with a hefty discount. But the fact remains that no tour operator in the state has tried to woo foreign travellers with the idea of ‘election tourism’ so far. “Foreign tourists tend to be amazed by the mood of celebration that one gets to see in India during the poll campaign period, quite in contrast to the sober run-up to the poll in many developed nations. But except for academicians, not many come here for the sole purpose of watching the election,” says Chandrahasan, executive director of Kerala Travels Interserve. According to political scientist Dr G Gopakumar, foreigners, especially from Australia, Canada, the US and the UK have come here to study elections in the past. “Most of them are students and academicians. They study the elections, interview candidates and voters. Then they produce brilliant papers on Kerala polls,” he says. “But the e-age makes such travel redundant. Another reason is India’s changed status.
During March-April, normally Kerala hosts more North Indian tourists than foreigners. Perhaps, that will change if tour operators take a cue from what the KTDC chairman says and starts wooing the westerns to Kerala shores with the promise of a memorable “election holiday package.”
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