REGIONAL AND LOCAL TOURISM IN COVID-19 TIMES: A STUDY OF ALAPPUZHA IN KERALA

Abstract

It is obvious that the tourism sector world over has been badly hit by the outbreak of the Covid-19 Virus. The lockdown, travel restrictions and social distancing have apparently led to the decline in tourist operations in many parts of the world. The income, employment and livelihood of those engaged in tourism have been badly affected. The visitors have been deprived of opportunities to visit the places of their interests. The reopening of the tourism sector to local and regional tourists has become succor for the tourism sector which would at least help the sector to cover its running costs. However, the satisfaction of the visitors with regard to the Covid-protocol measures matter a lot in sustaining tourism at these difficult times. The present study conducted in Alappuzha in the Kerala State of India reveals that more concrete steps need to be taken by the stakeholders of the tourism sector to make it more attractive and comfortable to the visitors. The study found that only 44 per cent of the respondents expressed a good opinion about the overall Covid Protocol measures adopted by the tour operators. The dissatisfaction with social distancing was quite high among the respondents.