ALAPPUZHA: The District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) of Alappuzha, India’s best-known backwater tourist destination, remains headless since March 8, even as it is readying for another season. A DTPC official said the absence of a full-time secretary had hit the file movements. Though Alappuzha RDO has the additional charge, he is unavailable most of the time. “Earlier, the sub-collector was dealing with its affairs. Now, it’s handed over to the RDO. We hear for some time about a new appointment,” he said.
Thousands of foreigners visit the Venice of the East every year during tourism season which begins next month. There were also many tourism promotion activities, including a week-long beach festival, the DTPC used to organise every year. Some 800 registered houseboats are currently anchored in the Punnamada Lake here awaiting tourists. Around three lakh tourists visited Alappuzha last year. “I don’t know why the district administration did not appoint a secretary for the past six months,” said C. Pradeep, former DTPC secretary. “Giving the responsibility to bureaucrats as an additional charge will not help tourism promotion. They have always given priority to their regular job.”
