Private players

The Pulickattil Tourism group, a houseboat company in Kochi, pioneered backwater tourism under the chairmanship of Thomas Pulickattil with its innovations in the creation of state-of the-art houseboats, many of which are the first-of-its-kind in India. The group has been making significant contributions to the growth and development of the tourism sector in Kerala. Pulickattil owns a fleet of 12 houseboats, including the country's first two floating convention vessels.
At a time when business magnates and heads of departments were seeking to hold their conferences and business discussions in an eco-friendly environment, Pulickattil Tourism Group claims to have found the solution. A convention cruise called 'Palace on Waves' was launched that accommodated 150 delegates onboard in the palatial convention hall on the upper deck for conferencing and has five air-conditioned rooms in the lower deck. Called the 'Jalasamrat', this houseboat is claimed to be the first floating convention vessel in the country.
Ayurveda has always lured foreign tourists to God's Own Country. Five-star hotels and smaller players monopolised the business with their 'stationary' services. To offer something different, Pulickattil decided to dedicate an entire houseboat to the business of ayurveda where tourists can indulge themselves in ayurvedic massages delivered by Ayur masseurs. Says Geepy Nayar, advisor for Pulickattil Tourism Group, "Our houseboats take tourists to the fantastic world of self-oblivion. As with conventions, the idea caught on well because it offered the opportunity for complete seclusion. While spas and resorts also offered similar or even better ayurvedic packages, tourists were attracted to the rustic ambience and the feel of the traditional houseboats."
In a unique initiative to offer foreign tourists a different slice of India, a concept called 'poll' tourism was introduced by the company's managing director Pulickattil. Says Nayar, "A few tourists aboard our houseboats were extremely interested in election-related cultural programmes, bills and wall writings of various parties. In fact, they commented on the electoral process being more like a festival." This concept was initiated to display the festive atmosphere created by political parties by holding rallies, public meetings, campaign trails, and cultural programmes. Pulickattil now ferries travellers around briefing them about the entire electoral process and the package, organised since the general election of 2005 followed by the assembly elections of 2006, has gained in popularity.
The group then decided to tap another segment of tourism - the rising number of women travellers. While hotels these days have special provisions for its women guests, from exclusive rooms to female attending staff, none of the houseboats had any such facilities for women.
After numerous requests and enquiries from women guests as well as travel agents and organisations about all-women packages, Pulickattil launched India's first houseboat exclusively for women. Christened the 'Vanitha' houseboat, Pulickattil calls it 'the first houseboat for women, by women.' It was launched in May and is piloted by three women; one at the steering wheel, the second at the engine and the third as the chef. Pulickattil Tourism Group is now looking to launch a houseboat with a swimming pool and needless to say, this will be India's first such houseboat.