Thiruvananthapuram: With the peak tourist season in God's Own Country set to begin in November, the travel trade and the hospitality industry are keeping their fingers crossed, hoping that the chikungunya scare does not keep tourists away from Kerala.

Tour operators in the State and those in New Delhi are flooded with enquiries from international tour operators about the situation, asking if it is safe to come to Kerala.

Although cancellations have been reported in the domestic sector, bookings from abroad have been unaffected so far.

"Domestic clients have started postponing their journey, citing the spread of fever. If the fever is not contained, it is going to hit the industry badly," E.M. Najeeb, chairman of Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) Kerala Chapter, said.

The chartered tour operation from Gatwick in the U.K. to the State is scheduled from November. Panic has gripped the tourism industry when it has been expecting a good tourist season this year also. Kerala recorded a 34 per cent increase in tourist arrivals during the first six months of the year.

Director of Kerala Tourism B. Suman said the State was expecting a 16 per cent increase in international arrivals. "There are no cancellations till date, but there is anxiety in the market."

"Health hazards can have a big impact on tourism industry as the country witnessed during plague in Surat. As many cases have been reported from Alappuzha district, the backwater tourism will be affected if the spread of the fever is not contained soon. It is a big concern for the industry," said president of Kerala Travel Mart Society Jose Dominic.

The biggest threat to tourism is garbage and local bodies should take steps to find a permanent solution for its proper disposal, he added.

Secretary of All-Kerala Houseboat Owners' Association Tomi Joseph said tourism on houseboats and in Alappuzha and Kumarakom would be hit if the fever was not contained. No cancellations of houseboat bookings had been reported.

Kerala Tourism has send messages to tour operators abroad and the international media, stating that chikungunya is "well under control" and that there is no need to "panic."

The communication has quoted Director of Health Services T.K. Kuttamani as saying, "We are keeping a close eye on the situation and have taken necessary measures to control the spread of the virus."

Additional cleanliness measures have been initiated in all the destinations, said Principal Secretary E.K. Bharat Bhushan. "There is no real cause for concern, given our success in containing the virus so far."

The communication has quoted the U.S. Centre of Disease Control's travel advisory, saying that chikungunya usually resolves on its own within three to seven days. "There is no specific therapy for the infection or vaccine against chikungunya," it said.

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