The recent major landslide near Kalladi in Wayanad, along the proposed tunnel road route, has delivered a massive blow not just to the hill district, but to Kerala’s overall tourism sector. Striking at a time when the state’s tourism industry was showing strong signs of recovery post the 2018 floods, the disaster has severely impacted monsoon travel bookings across the state.
Despite the landslide being localized to a specific pocket in Wayanad, sensationalized coverage in international and national media—amplified by viral social media posts—has created a widespread perception that the entire state of Kerala is unsafe for travel.
Prior to the incident, homestays and resorts across Kerala were witnessing higher monsoon bookings for July and August compared to previous years. However, news of the disaster triggered an immediate wave of cancellations.
The panic has spilled over beyond Wayanad into other major hill stations, including Munnar, Idukki, and Vagamon:
Mass cancellations: Resorts and homestays in Wayanad have seen a drastic drop in tourist footfall as travellers cancel planned trips.
Ripple effect in other hubs: Tourist arrivals in popular destinations like Munnar have plummeted due to safety fears, despite being located far from the incident site.
Industry stakeholders emphasise that panic reporting by media outlets outside the state has exacerbated the crisis by painting a distorted picture of Kerala being entirely gripped by natural calamity.
"The disaster occurred in a specific area of Wayanad. However, reports circulating outside project the entire state as unsafe. This misrepresentation will severely impact thousands of families and entrepreneurs relying on monsoon tourism for their livelihoods," Sreenath Anirudhan, a homestay operator in Wayanad, told DhanamOnline.
As rescue and relief operations continue in the affected zones, tourism promoters are calling on the state government and the Tourism Department to step in with proactive measures:
Official awareness campaigns: Issue clear statements reassuring domestic and international travellers that other tourism hubs across Kerala remain safe and accessible.
Clear travel guidelines: Introduce and publicise well-defined safety protocols for high-range travel to maintain confidence without creating panic.
While operators hope for a rebound once monsoon rains subside, they stress that a coordinated campaign is urgently needed to restore traveler confidence and salvage the season.
