Cherai beach sees 20% uptick in tourist arrivals
A sharp increase in the inflow of tourists, especially from West Asia, is brightening the business prospects of Cherai beach, a beach tourism destination in Kerala.
During last year, over 500,000 tourists, including 20,000 from abroad, visited the beach, as per the data available with Cherai Beach Hotels and Resorts Development Forum (CBHRDF). The number is increasing 20 per cent annually.
A major attraction of the location is that it is situated on the northern part of Vypeen Island and is surrounded by the Arabian Sea on the west and beautiful backwaters on the east.
Sebi Paul, president of the forum and director of Indriya Beach Resorts and Spa, told Business Standard that the Muiziris Heritage Tourism Project, which connects major tourism spots and historic monuments in Ernakulam and Thrissur districts, would be a boon to the beach destination as this is in close proximity to the proposed waterway of the project.
He said that a major handicap of the area was the shortage of world-class accommodation. The number of rooms currently available is 500. Around 300 rooms would be added within the next three years, he said.
“Construction of big projects will not be allowed here due to the coastal area restrictions of the Union government. This is the major reason for such a serious handicap to the beautiful location,” he said.
The entire Vypeen Island has around 30 kilometre beach, and 12 attractive spots have been identified by the government and local bodies for developing as beach tourism destinations. These include Munambam, Kuzhuppilly, Raktheswari beach, Convent beach, Chathangad, Edavanakkad and Puthuvype.
The forum has urged the government to develop all these destinations which are suitable for beach-based tourism and water sports. The development of such a chain of beaches will attract more tourists to Vypeen Island. The service of tourism police should be provided here in order to help tourists as more than 10,000 people come to Cherai beach on the weekends and on public holidays.
The forum has also demanded that road connectivity be provided to the area. The beach road that connects Puthyvype on the south and Munambam on the north has been completed on some stretches only. Seby said that the construction of the beach road should be completed at the earliest which gives access from the south and north to the various beaches of the island.
The forum, in association with the Pallippuram village panchayat, will organise a seminar on the development of Cherai on June 29.
MV Vinoj, a tourism consultant, told Business Standard that the Muziris project would provide a big leap to the tourism sector of central Kerala and would give a good chance to the Cherai beach. The absence of collective marketing is a big handicap to the area. Some resorts like Indriya promote the place individually in the Gulf region and Europe.
He said that the number of non-resident Keralites (NRKs) who buys land and building homes is on the increase since the last five to six years.
Of late, the arrival of tourists from the Gulf region is on the increase. Around 100 activities like fishing, site-seeing and water sports had been identified by the forum for promotion of the beach. The Muziris project, which is on an advanced stage of commissioning, connects historic monuments like Paliyam Palace at Chendamangalam, Sri Krishna Swami Temple , Jewish Synagogue and Kottackavu Church, Vinoj said.
“The Phase-I of the Rs 500-crore initiative will be launched in the September–October period,” said VD Satheeshan, MLA of north Paravoor Assembly segment. Work on the project is now in an advanced stage and the construction of the Muziris Museum and various roads are progressing well, he added.