Kerala Alcohol ban: ‘Rolex has rethink after ban’

Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industries president E M Najeeb and CGH Earth CEO and adviser to India Tourism Jose Dominic have called for an open discussion with KPCC chief V M Sudheeran.

Both have met the Chief Minister and his colleagues, who they say were sympathetic of tourism’s concerns, but are yet to get a hearing with V.M. Sudheeran. “Just send me your notes,” was the only thing Sudheeran told them.

“If the KPCC president feels that the liquor ban will not affect tourism, he should substantiate his point,” said E M Najeeb, president of the Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industries.

“Ever since the prohibition announcement was made, 15 major conferences have been shifted from the state. How can a person of Sudheeran’s stature make such vacuous statements,” he said.

Jose Dominic said that Rolex company, which has scheduled a series of get-togethers in Marari Beach during October and November, were reconsidering their decision after the liquor ban was announced.

“Sudheeran should know that if we continue to place more hurdles in the way of the tourists, it is easy for them to find other avenues,” he said.

Najeeb said that it was the tourism industry that had erased Kerala’s image as a poor investment destination.

“The red flag and the hammer and sickle had scared investors away. It was then left to the local tourism entrepreneurs to deftly negotiate the political minefields and create a tourism success story,” Mr Dominic said.

“There is a coastal stretch between Cherthala and Alappuzha, a highly impoverished area once, which Sudheeran knows very well. There we set up the Marari Beach Resort. More local entrepreneurs followed suit. Now the youth in the area have hope and a solid job option in their backyard,” Mr Dominic said.

Both said that Sudheeran’s stand would hold at least a semblance of credibility only if he were to call for the immediate closure of all Bevco outlets in the state.