Slump in business hits traders in tourist areas

KOCHI: During the peak tourist season from  December-May, it is busy time for traders in the area. High-end hotels and homestays also get full then. But come monsoon and everyone is offering services at budget rate, as business gets dull. Small-time vendors like those selling ice-cream, peanut, tender coconut and operating small food joints are the worst hit. According to Reji, an ice-cream vendor the sales have come down drastically in the last two months. “Some tourists are there, but not many are interested in buying ice-creams,” he said. Most of ice-vendors have moved off to festivals and exhibitions to catch some business. Reji says that he has opened  a temporary unit near a church at Pallipuram in Munambham where a festival is on. The starting of the holy month of Ramzan has also led to a fall in visitors to the beach and the tourism zone, he said. Now that the business is dull, tender coconut seller Gafoor is concerned about keeping the tender coconut safe. He said that the there is risk of some of the coconuts developing cracks and becoming unfit for consumption. Gafoor said that the sales was very good during summer. Still there are people preferring natural drink to mineral water. He said there are some foreign tourists still and they do prefer tender coconut. Gaffoor is of the opinion that the government is not enough welfare of small-time traders.  According to him, the traders played a key role for the growth of tourism.