Kochi: The ‘Papanji’, which will be set to flames to usher in the New Year on Thursday midnight is almost ready. The coastal town is abuzz with activities as the local crowd throng the Fort Kochi beach ground to see the adventure beach bike race even as roadside vendors have placed their makeshift shops along the beach walkway.
However, unlike previous years, the dip in foreign tourists who are part of New Year celebrations every year is visible. “This Christmas-New Year season, there is a fall in international tourist arrivals. The Homestay business was severely affected. There are nearly 300 Homestays in Fort Kochi but many are yet to get customers, a rare scenario at this time of the season,” said Sreenath V of Tourism Police, Fort Kochi.
According to the officer, two reasons are cited for the fall in foreign tourist arrivals. “The beach as such is getting shorter every year. Tourists now prefer Varkala for that reason. They want long beaches to relish and activities such as sunbathing. Another reason attributed is the liquor ban policy which too has a mild effect.”
“A Homestay facility is now available for as low as Rs 500 on an average for a single day. There is a 20 per cent fall in tourist arrivals this New Year season,” said Solomon Dcruz, a Homestay owner.
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