ALAPPUZHA: Alappuzha has the potential to cash in on poll tourism along with backwater tourism for which it is famous. But the Kerala tourism department has not shown much enthusiasm in this respect fearing that it may have a negative impact on the tourists because of the hustle and bustle, according to Mr T.V. Prasanth, Information officer, Kerala Tourism.
However, during the May 2004 elections, the local tour agents had afforded an opportunity to the tourists to watch and experience the colourful electioneering special to the district. According to Mr Tomi Pulickattil, a tour operator, the tourists were impressed with the vibrant electoral campaigns conducted through the paddy fields, backwaters and on the banks of pocket canals enriched with coconut trees.
The campaigns that included meetings and marches, noisy propaganda and posters and flags everywhere had excited the visitors. The polling officials carrying ballot boxes in boats was peculiar to Alappuzha , he said.
All the tourists were fascinated by the interest shown by the people of Kuttanad in electioneering. “Last time, a team of 15 German tourists came for a 10-day package tour and they were taken around Alappuzha and Varkala constituencies,” Mr Pulickattil said. He got the idea from a Goan woman, married to a UK national, who had booked a houseboat to see the Kuttanadan electioneering in that year.
