AFTER a lull of over two years, a deluge of over 20,000 Russian tourists is expected to arrive in Kerala between October and March 2013, cushioning the impact of falling visitor numbers from traditional European markets.
Fifty-seven charter flights from Russia have been scheduled between 4Q2012 and 3Q2013, and are expected to at least double the number of Russian arrivals registered last year. The first such flight carrying 150 passengers will arrive in Trivandrum on October 17, followed by at least a flight each week thereafter.
These visitors will cover the Trivandrum, Kovalam, Munnar and Cochin circuit, spending at least two weeks engaging in a range of activities including Ayurveda treatments and yoga sessions, said Doronina Irina, group tours manager, West-Line Travel Moscow.
Dipak Deva, CEO, Kuoni India & South-east Asia, welcomed the influx, saying it would make up for the “dying” European market. “Tourism in India has survived rough patches because of Russian inbound into our country,” he said.
However, some industry players expressed reservations about increased Russian inbound. Riaz Ahmed, managing director, Abad Hotels and president, Kerala Travel Mart 2012, said: “Kerala is not a charter destination as we do not have the capacity nor the products to handle charter tourists.”
Similarly, Paul Kennes, managing director, Horizon Noveaux Switzerland, cautioned that mass marketing Kerala could destroy the destination’s cultural appeal. “Kerala should not focus on numbers, but on the quality of tourists who appreciate the culture and spend money for the value of the experience,” he said.
