King Mahabali is here, but where are Malayalees?

KOCHI: Onam is here, but where are the Malayalees? Most of the natives prefer celebrating the biggest festival in some faraway tourist abodes. There has been a huge demand for one-week foreign packages. Air tickets are also facing shortages.

Malaysia, Singapore and Azerbaijan continue to be the most sought-after destinations of Malayalees during Onam holidays. The one-week-long packages are trending, while some prefer flying to Europe rather than sticking within the borders of Asia.

Meanwhile, houseboats in Alappuzha and Kumarakom in Kerala witnessed a late surge in customers. Foreigners are also flocking to get more glimpse of the scenic backwaters. There are indications of more foreigners planning a visit to Kerala during the Navratri season. This is expected to repeat this season, too.

Most foreigners visit Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady, Alappuzha, Gavi, Wayanad, Kollam and Kozhikode in Kerala. There has also been an increase in the number of Malayalees travelling to tourist destinations in neighbouring states.

“New trends are emerging in terms of travel methods and destinations”, said Mariyamma Jose, State President, Travel Agents Association of India. The spectators for this year’s iconic boat race also saw the numbers plummeting. Foreigners and tourists from other states used to come in large numbers to enjoy the Nehru Trophy boat race in Alappuzha. However, this time the numbers dropped. Travel and tour operators doubt that the inclement climate prevailing in Kerala has caused many to change their preferences.