Kerala houseboat industry under scanner for sex tourism

Alappuzha, Aug 31: The district administration has initiated steps for monitoring the houseboat industry following reports of sex tourism and possibility of extremist elements using the facilities.

The move follows an alert from additional director general of police (intelligence) A Hemachandran. District collector N Padmakumar has sought reports from the district police chief and the port officer— who is responsible for issuing licences to houseboats—in this regard.

"The ADGP alerted us that there is no efficient monitoring of the houseboat industry. He wanted us to take action against sex tourism and check details of those renting these houseboats. He even warned us that houseboats could turn a safe haven for extremists," Padmakumar said.

He said the district administration would soon form squads in association with port department and police and start raiding houseboats in September.

People associated with the industry confirmed reports of sex tourism. "We have arranged sex workers for some guests who demanded such services. However, we try to avoid such guests," said Akhil, a houseboat employee from Muhamma.

Anu Renjith, district manager of state AIDS control society's 'Suraksha' project, said 800 of 1,528 sex workers in Alappuzha worked in association with the industry. She said only 20 houseboat operators had allowed the society to install condom boxes in their boats as part of its safe-sex initiative.

District tourism promotion council secretary C Pradeep also said not all houseboat operators followed its directives. "Only 637 of the 1,000-1,200 houseboats operating in the district have completed the registration process. We had stopped giving permission for new houseboats last year but new houseboats are still being launched."

He said all houseboat operators were instructed to keep a clients' register following the houseboat accident in Punnamada Lake on January 26 last year, which claimed four lives. "They were also directed to submit the register to the DTPC for inspection but they protested against it, We don't have a clear picture about tourists hiring houseboats."

He said around 2,59,000 domestic tourists and 58,000 foreign tourists had visited the district last year, as per the records from hotels and resorts.

R R Joshiraj, a major houseboat operator, said the industry never encouraged sex tourism. "Such instances could be there. But the majority are ready to cooperate with the government in cracking down such illegal practices," he added.