Next time Kerala's spectacular countryside, its soothing backwaters or serene hill stations pop up on your itinerary, you may be tempted to opt for a self-contained 'home on wheels' with facilities that feel like a home away from home. Whether you are a romantic couple, a family looking for quality time together away from the hubbub of a city, or a backpacker seeking adventure, caravans offer the freedom of languid, sustainable and responsible travel, all with highest priority for hygiene, safety and social distancing.
Caravan tourism has gained immense popularity across the globe due to the freedom and flexibility it offers. The segment has the advantage of an absolutely safe travel bubble from home to destination and back. Those who enjoy travel definitely wouldn't prefer long airport delays and the prospect of using public rest rooms. Food with unknown origins and travelling in air-conditioned trains with strangers whose health status may be risky can also make people tense and jittery.
Caravan Tourism, powered by customized stylish vehicles and equipped with all the trappings for a smooth ride and comfortable stay, is tipped to be the next big thing for Kerala Tourism after houseboats in three decades. The state government has already announced a comprehensive, stakeholder-friendly Caravan Tourism policy, branded as Keravan Kerala, promising the visitors customized and closest-to-nature travel experiences. "Going by Kerala's inherent strengths of natural beauty and tourism-friendly culture, Caravan Tourism has immense scope for the state. Besides offering a refreshing experience for the tourists, local communities stand to gain substantially by enabling them to showcase their culture and products before the visitors," says Mr VR Krishna Teja, Director, Tourism. The policy envisages tourist caravans as comfortable and fully compliant with local and state regulations, providing a homely feeling for the guests. It also entails development of Caravan Parks as private, public or joint ventures. A park, which needs at least 50 cents of land, should have space to accommodate five caravans at a time with facilities like food parks, rest rooms, activity areas and drivers' lodges.
Recent trends show that most of the tourists are travelling as couples or families and prefer less crowded places. Mr Abraham George, Managing Director of Intersight Tours and Travels, who believes there will be good demand for caravans, says, "It will be a big hit with honeymooners because of the privacy and security offered by caravans." The travel company is currently designing hybrid packages that includes caravan tourism. Mr Riyaz UC, Managing Director, Spiceland Holidays, too feels that caravan tourism can be packaged both as a standalone product and a hybrid package. Spiceland is exploring the possibility of introducing a hop-on, hop-off model to reduce cost.
Many of these motor homes are the ultimate in luxury and provide a complete spectrum of amenities; queen-sized beds, shower and toilet, solar-powered geysers, air-conditioners, heaters, a kitchenette with electric and gas burners, mini-fridge, a microwave oven, and smart TV screens. The list does not end there. They also have motorised windows, portable barbeque grills and an awning that lets you enjoy the weather outdoors. Plus, sofas, recliners, foldout tables, convertible beds, ambient lighting and Wi-Fi-enabled smart entertainment systems only add to the comfort. Taking a cue from Kerala's Caravan Tourism policy, auto major Bharat Benz has already rolled out its world class, ready-for the road Tourist Caravan in the state while Bengaluru-based start-up Campervan Camps and Holidays India Pvt Ltd recently introduced its premium truck camper, LuxeCamper.
Considering the natural beauty of God's Own Country dotted with backwaters and hill stations, Caravans and Caravan Parks have the potential to become a game-changer in the tourism sector. The initial demand in this niche segment is expected to come from domestic tourists and then from the inbound tourists who can savour the village life in a place where they are halting. Whether it is a village with acres of paddy fields, a fisherman's hamlet or a hub of traditional craft work, they will be able to get a glimpse of the daily life of the community.
CommentsThe initiative also opens up the possibility of turning accessible but unexplored places in the state into alluring destinations. It is designed to make tourism a sustainable activity that would bring benefits to local communities and scale up opportunities for the industry. The experiential feature, directly linked to Kerala's successful Responsible Tourism (RT) initiative, has the potential to generate employment and commercial opportunities for local communities, local self-government institutions, small and micro enterprises.
