The Responsible Tourism (RT) Mission’s Nattinpurangalil Onam Unnam (Let’s have an Onam feast in the countryside) and Onam special packages are attracting tourists to villages in a big way.
Since September 1, homes, restaurants, catering units, homestays, and hotels registered with the mission for authentic Onam cuisine packages are offering Onasadya. Till September 8, 829 onasadyas were served to guests through the RT Mission.
The good response to the mission’s Nattinpurangalil Onam Unnam and Veettil Oonu (lunch at home) units in select destinations two years ago encouraged us to spread it all over the State this year and the initiative has clicked, says RT Mission State coordinator Roopesh Kumar K.
Holidayers reaching the State till September 30 can savour authentic Onam feast and dishes with the RT Mission and enjoy the rustic life of the State.
Tailor-made special homestay packages with Onam feasts ‘Onam - Grama Yathrakal’ (A journey into the heart of villages), ‘Onam Village - Life Experience’ packages and Onam special accommodation packages - have been rolled out.
A family of four availing themselves of the homestay package get one-night stay, breakfast, Onasadya, and dinner. They will also be gifted handicraft items, handlooms or banana chips.
In the ‘Onam - Grama Yathrakal’, the guests are taken for a trip to the villages. A family of four will be served Onasadya and will be presented with handicraft items, handlooms or banana chips.
The RT Mission has designed special Onam village-life experience packages in different districts. In addition to these packages, regular packages are also on offer.
“There are 422 bookings for Onasadya packages. As many as 52 grama yatra packages have been conducted so far and there are bookings for 48 packages. We were able to organise 32 Onam special experiential packages and bookings are there for another 82 packages. In Onam special accommodation package, 54 had availed themselves of the package and another 48 bookings had been received,” the State RT Mission coordinator said.
Through the initiative, the mission is helping Kerala Tourism increase footfall as well as promote the culinary identity of the State and branding of the destination among tourists.