The frequent strikes by houseboat operators and workers not only put the houseboat industry in Kumarakom in turmoil, but also left a deep scar on the image of the popular tourist destination.
It was sheer uncertainty that prevailed in the last three weeks here by the unexpected strike called by the workers who demanded hike in salary. The houseboat owners too suspended the services later disagreeing with the employees' demands. This had put both domestic and foreign tourists, who had made advance bookings, in trouble.
On Monday, hours after beginning the strike, a section of houseboat workers temporarily withdrew from it following the intervention of local police.
"Government did not handle the situation properly. They are responsible for tarnishing the image of Kumarakom," said Sreekumar, a tour operator based in Kumarakom. "When my guests insist on houseboats I am forced to book houseboats in Alappuzha. It is the houseboat owners and the workers in Kumarakom who will suffer in the long run if bookings are directed to Alappuzha," he said.
"As tour operators, we only try to increase bookings and it will benefit Aleppey while Kumarakom will be at a loss," he said.
Another tour operator Binu said that the resorts here too will suffer due to the strike if the tourists are forced to remain confined to their rooms owing to strikes and it will in turn affect the whole tourism industry here.
Meanwhile, All Kerala Houseboat Owners Association (AKHOA) member R R Joshiraj said that there were no such issues in Alappuzha houseboat industry.
"Now, here is no problem between the houseboat employees and owners. If the houseboat employees in Kumarakom continue their strike, we expect more foreigners to Alappuzha for houseboat cruising," he said.
All Kerala Houseboats and Resorts Workers Union (CITU) leader C K Sadasivan MLA said, "If employees and owners conduct such strikes again, it will destroy the industry. So we will abstain from such strikes," he said.
Tourists, especially foreign tourists who stay in resorts here now depend on 'Kerala model Kashmir Shikaras'. Kunjumon who owns such a boat said that the demand for these boats is high at present. "But these boats can be used only for canal cruise and not in the backwaters," he said.
On Monday, a section of the houseboat workers began strike in the morning and tried to stop the boats which were in service. Following this, the owners sought police protection, said Pushkaran, president of the owners' association. Police briefed the workers that they were violating the agreement reached upon in the discussion with the tourism minister earlier.
Kumarakom SI M J Arun held talks with the workers following which they temporarily withdrew from the strike. "The workers said that they would discuss the issue with district CITU leaders and decide on the future course of action," he said. Meanwhile, Pushkaran said that the whole issue was the result of immaturity of the leadership of the workers.
"We have informed about the situation to the CITU senior leaders," he said.
According to the new two-year-agreement, the boat workers will get Rs 6,750 per month and a monthly allowance of Rs 170. But the workers on strike in Kumarakom wanted to reduce this contract period to one year.
Courtesy : TimesOfIndia
It was sheer uncertainty that prevailed in the last three weeks here by the unexpected strike called by the workers who demanded hike in salary. The houseboat owners too suspended the services later disagreeing with the employees' demands. This had put both domestic and foreign tourists, who had made advance bookings, in trouble.
On Monday, hours after beginning the strike, a section of houseboat workers temporarily withdrew from it following the intervention of local police.
"Government did not handle the situation properly. They are responsible for tarnishing the image of Kumarakom," said Sreekumar, a tour operator based in Kumarakom. "When my guests insist on houseboats I am forced to book houseboats in Alappuzha. It is the houseboat owners and the workers in Kumarakom who will suffer in the long run if bookings are directed to Alappuzha," he said.
"As tour operators, we only try to increase bookings and it will benefit Aleppey while Kumarakom will be at a loss," he said.
Another tour operator Binu said that the resorts here too will suffer due to the strike if the tourists are forced to remain confined to their rooms owing to strikes and it will in turn affect the whole tourism industry here.
Meanwhile, All Kerala Houseboat Owners Association (AKHOA) member R R Joshiraj said that there were no such issues in Alappuzha houseboat industry.
"Now, here is no problem between the houseboat employees and owners. If the houseboat employees in Kumarakom continue their strike, we expect more foreigners to Alappuzha for houseboat cruising," he said.
All Kerala Houseboats and Resorts Workers Union (CITU) leader C K Sadasivan MLA said, "If employees and owners conduct such strikes again, it will destroy the industry. So we will abstain from such strikes," he said.
Tourists, especially foreign tourists who stay in resorts here now depend on 'Kerala model Kashmir Shikaras'. Kunjumon who owns such a boat said that the demand for these boats is high at present. "But these boats can be used only for canal cruise and not in the backwaters," he said.
On Monday, a section of the houseboat workers began strike in the morning and tried to stop the boats which were in service. Following this, the owners sought police protection, said Pushkaran, president of the owners' association. Police briefed the workers that they were violating the agreement reached upon in the discussion with the tourism minister earlier.
Kumarakom SI M J Arun held talks with the workers following which they temporarily withdrew from the strike. "The workers said that they would discuss the issue with district CITU leaders and decide on the future course of action," he said. Meanwhile, Pushkaran said that the whole issue was the result of immaturity of the leadership of the workers.
"We have informed about the situation to the CITU senior leaders," he said.
According to the new two-year-agreement, the boat workers will get Rs 6,750 per month and a monthly allowance of Rs 170. But the workers on strike in Kumarakom wanted to reduce this contract period to one year.
Courtesy : TimesOfIndia
Crosswoods holidays 2012
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