Despite the web page depicting Kerela’s Fort Kochi beach as a place “with clean premises and tranquil atmosphere, frequented by tourists and locals”, the reality painted a different picture.
On January 30, a video from Fort Kochi beach started to circulate and gained popularity where Russian tourists were seen cleaning Fort Kochi beach before taking a dip in unclean waters causing Kerela tourism embarrassment.
In response, the Tourism Department, aligning with Tourism Vision 2025, aimed at optimizing Kerala’s tourism potential sustainably, has called for a report from its officials regarding the beach’s current condition.
Adding to the humiliation, the tourists left a message on the bags, urging locals to “cleanse your life, collect trash, fill a pocket with it, burn it or bury it.”
The video highlighted the cleaning efforts of the Russian team in the presence of C Satheesh, the President of the All Kerala Tour Guides Association, leading a group of NRI tourists. Satheesh later expressed his embarrassment, stating, “It is a matter of shame that foreign tourists had to take up cleaning of Kerala’s prime beachfront.”
Allegations surfaced that the appointed Cochin Heritage Conservation Society was not effectively carrying out the beach cleaning. The incident also spurred demands for enhanced beach-cleaning measures and the daily cleaning efforts by around 20 sweepers and garbage collectors were insufficient
