Covid-19: Houseboats in Kerala resume services despite rising infections

Kumarakom - Operations shut down over a year and a half ago

Houseboat tourism has resumed in Kerala's Kumarakom more than one and a half years since it shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020.

This comes after the transport authority of the Kerala government permitted the operation of houseboats, sources said.

Kumarakom is famed for its lakes and rivulets with houseboats and is one of the most sought after tourism destinations in Kerala.

Sabumon Kalarikkal, owner of a houseboat, told ANI, "The tourism sector has restarted now. However, only a few tourists have been coming. We hope that the sector makes a recovery after being hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic for over a year."

In an effort to provide a safe environment to the tourists, most workers and employers at these houseboats have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Shiju S, a staff member on the houseboat, said that "they have both the doses of Covid vaccines".

This comes even as Kerala continues to report the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the country. According to the state health department bulletin, Kerala reported 30,203 new Covid-19 cases and 115 deaths on Tuesday.

• India