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THIRUVANATHAPURAM, INDIA, June 23, 2004: In Kerala, enterprising house boat operators are experimenting with fresh ideas to attract tourists. After the success of conference tourism and poll tourism, its time for monsoon tourism with special emphasis on Ayurveda on board. Specially designed to cater to the foreign and domestic tourists during monsoon season, Ayurveda centres offer an exclusive range of ayurvedic leisure treatment, herbal facials and massage. And then, there is the bonus of a cruise along the captivating backwaters surrounded by coconut palms and paddy fields. “The treatment which we give here is mainly the relaxing mode of treatment. This method of treatment is recommended only for a healthy person,” says Dr. Sreedevi, Ayurvedic Practitioner. It’s all part of an attempt to attract tourists in the traditional off-season monsoon and it appears to be working. “Its definitely a wonderful atmosphere that we had facial in. I mean it is on board and its a beautiful feeling. So its wonderful place to have a facial done or any kind of treatment,” says Esther, a US tourist. Of the 140 odd houseboats which operate in the sprawling Vembanad lake in Alleppey, monsoon tourism packages have been introduced in just a couple of them. But it’s an idea which is expected to now catch on. “We intend to provide minor ayurvedic health care facilities to the tourists even while they enjoy their holidays away from the concrete cubicals in this open and serene environment,” says Joseph Pullikattil, Ayurvedic practitioner. With such ventures the tourist promoters hope to attract more international tourists during the lean period of monsoon.

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