ALAPPUZHA: It was on Friday last that six performers of ‘Kalaripayattu’ joined hands with Shaolin exponents at a rare fusion of the two traditional art forms at a three-day function in the Chinese capital as part of tourism promotion.
It was witnessed by a delegation to China comprising Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson and Tourism Secretary G Kamala Vardhana Rao and headed by Tourism Minister A P Anilkumar. Tour operators are also positive of more Chinese arrivals as the Centre is set to implement the e-visa scheme.
Kerala’s strong pitch to woo Chinese tourists brings back memories of what is called “houseboat diplomacy” that was held on March 12, 2006 between China and India on a houseboat in Kumarakam. The high level talks led by Executive Vice-Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo, who was also a special representative of the Chinese Premier, had held talks on board the houseboat. Houseboat diplomacy happened after then Chinese Ambassador to India, Sub Yuxi, showed interest in hiring a houseboat to hold further talks between the two nations.
Nearly a decade later with Chinese travelling – according to figures available for 2014, at least 107 million Chinese tourists are travelling worldwide – far and wide, Kerala is hoping to cash in the penchant of the Chinese for houseboat cruising.
“It was a great step that the tourism department brought about to explore the potential of the Chinese to Kerala”, says Switten George, one of the prominent houseboat owners here and Vice President, All Kerala Houseboat Owners Association (AKHOA). The backwaters are a highly sought after option among the Chinese who visit the State. Many Chinese tourists have come over here seeking houseboat cruising”, he adds.
Recalling the moments of ‘houseboat diplomacy’, he says that was what was largely instrumental in familiarizing houseboat cruising among the Chinese.
