KOCHI: Close on the heels of air-conditioned hop-on hop-off boats creating waves in the Muziris heritage tourism circuit, their land counterparts are set to begin operations in Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Thrissur.
Each city will get a 25-seater AC hop-on hop-off bus that will link tourism locales in the region. “The hi-tech bus to be operated in Kochi will link numerous historic locales in Muziris, Cherai, and Kuzhipilly beaches. It will then proceed to heritage locales in Fort Kochi and Mattancherry, according to a tentative schedule, providing guests a taste of the regional heritage. The tour is likely from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and we are awaiting the arrival of the bus. The fare and other details are being worked out,” said S. Vijayakumar, secretary of Ernakulam DTPC.
“The guests will also get a chance to travel on the Kochi metro. The DTPC will seek more such buses based on patronage (each bus costs ₹50 lakh). This will enable guests to spend more time at the destinations of their choice and board buses which come subsequently,” he added.
Tourism officials had recently informed the District Collector that the bus meant for Ernakulam was ready for despatch. Guests can board the bus from Ernakulam Boat Jetty, Durbar Hall Ground, or Ernakulam South. Bus crew, marketing, and reservation staff will be appointed shortly.
The bus purchased by spending tourism funds comes after a decade-long lull when luxury buses operated by the KTDC from the city to destinations in the State were pulled out of service. Though the Ernakulam DTPC roped in a private tour operator to ferry guests on city tour, it was not a success since the tour operator was not keen on operating buses until there was a minimum number of guests.
“We intend to operate daily tours, irrespective of the guest turnout. Only then will tour operators and hotels refer their guests to us. The bus will also come in handy when tourists arrive in the city in cruise ships,” Mr. Vijayakumar said.
Numerous other cities in India have such tour-bus services, including double-decker ones sans roof.
