Kerala Tourism Faces Crisis Due to Poor Sanitation and Infrastructure
Thiruvananthapuram: Poor waste management, lack of toilets, and shoddy parking are marring the tourist experience at major destinations like Kovalam, Kollam, and Munnar. Tourism minister P C Vishnunadh stated that recent visits revealed poor upkeep and shabby waste management at these popular spots.
The grand Rs 100 crore Kovalam redevelopment project is yet to take off, leaving the destination appearing shabby. Meanwhile, many spots in Munnar are congested, littered, and crowded with shops that often inconvenience tourists. Plastic waste is being dumped into the water bodies of Munnar, further degrading the environment.
In Kollam, the lake where boats ply is polluted. A similar situation exists in Alappuzha, a hub of houseboat tourism. Houseboat operators have long demanded that the state government clean up the lakes and waterways and set up a sewage treatment plant. However, the plan is yet to materialize, and the tourism department has no control over the proposal because it does not manage the water bodies.
Rectifying these defects is not easy because multiple departments are involved, and none of them have tourism as a priority area. Waste management falls under the local body, while river and lake upkeep comes under the department of irrigation or water resources.
In Kollam, waste scooped out of the water is being dumped on the banks of the lake near the houseboat terminal, where tourists assemble for their trips. The scooped-out waste is not removed immediately and lies there for a few days, spreading a foul smell.
Vishnunadh said at a meeting with tourism associations that there appears to be no system in place for waste management even in major destinations. “I have told them if they have decided to scoop out the waste from the lake, it should be removed from the banks immediately,” he said.
Tourism promotion is also at stake. He noted that the district tourism promotion council’s building in Kollam only has an ATM and a textile shop, with no tourism activity going on there.
