Kerala opens beaches and parks for tourists

Kerala is opening its beaches, parks and museums for domestic tourists from November 1, marking resumption of tourism activities in full swing ahead of the annual tourism season, after remaining shut for eight months following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

In the first phase, tourist destinations and services across the state were reopened on October 10, by strictly adhering to a comprehensive set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure the safety of visitors.

The services that started receiving guests on October 10 included house boats on backwaters and personalised boating and adventure tourism spots, which have controlled access and where it is easy to implement the SMS (Social distancing, Mask and Soap Sanitizer) norms. Hill stations were also thrown open, signaling the revival of the revenue-generating industry.

“Beaches of Kerala have always attracted visitors from all corners of the world on account of their unsurpassed beauty, warmth of waters and cleanliness. It is significant that we are re-opening our beaches, including globally famed sea-side destinations like Kovalam, when the annual tourist season is round the corner” State Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran said.

“The response in destinations and services that resumed operations early this month has been encouraging, with the footfall gradually increasing. The stake-holders have extended their total co-operation to see that all safety parameters are followed. The visitors are also complying with the guidelines issued by the State Government,” said Tourism Secretary Rani George IAS.

“As we re-open our beaches, Tourism Department officials on the ground are making extra efforts to ensure that the specific guidelines are followed to the last detail,” said Tourism Director P. Bala Kiran IAS.

As part of safety parameters for beaches, which do not have controlled access, directions have been issued to ensure that officials are deployed at the entry points, walkways and open areas, equipped with thermal check, sanitizers and hand-wash facilities. Boards prominently featuring “Dos’ and ‘Don’ts’ are being put up and walkways, hand-rails and shelters will be sprayed with sanitisers at regular intervals.