It is sizzling hot in West Asia, and tourists from nations in the region have starting arriving to soak up the monsoon in the State.
The arrival of Arab tourists from June to August has been a trend for the past four years.
“But there are fewer of them than last year,” P. Subramanian, general manager of a resort here, says.
The Tourism Department has been promoting the charms of Kerala in the Gulf nations in the past few years.
The Arabs prefer Gulf-returned Keralites as cab drivers and guides to break the language barrier.
“But they love to watch our monsoon, get drenched in it,” Mr. Subramanian says.
N. Sreekumar, general secretary, All Kerala Houseboat Owners Association, says fewer tourists from the Gulf countries are arriving now. “But the tourists who come always enjoy a houseboat cruise in Vembanad Lake,” he says. They are eager to visit Munnar and Thekkady too.
Most of these tourists are from Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
More visitors expected
The tourism industry here expects more visitors from the Gulf in the coming days.
