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Tourists on election tour in Kerala
Published on Tue, Apr 18, 2006 at 22:00, Updated on Wed, Apr 19, 2006 at 16:43 in section
Tags: Assembly Polls, Kerala
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Thiruvananthapuram Kerala, touted as god's own country in tourism campaigns, is wooing tourists with elections. As the state gets ready for Assembly elections, tour operators are taking foreign tourists on campaign trails, chat with candidates and visits to constituencies.
German tourist Frank is a Left sympathizer and keenly interested politics. He is delighted that Left parties in India are part of the democratic process.
"This is a true democracy. So many people participate in elections here. It's not so open in Europe. It's a good thing," says Frank.
The state's caste politics, too, is being sold in election packages. Tour operators admit caste politics is very complicated, but say it’s a good business opportunity.
"We believe tourists can be amateur election and political analysts and witness and understand this vibrant multiparty system we have," says tour operator Bleesen Siby.
And you don't have to be keenly interested in politics to watch the elections. French musician Sofi came to Kerala for its famed beaches and locales. But the election fever caught up with her and she has extended her stay to witness the first phase of polling this weekend.
"I was in my hotel room and heard this music and speeches blaring from the loudspeaker. I asked my hotel manager and he said it was the elections. I was fascinated," Sofi says.
In the tourist hotspot of Kovalam, the situation was no different. The colour of Indian democracy seemed to be soaking a group of men from China for whom this dance of democracy was a novelty.
Politics like cricket and Bollywood is, undoubtedly, a national obsession.
But the colour, sounds and the inherent complexities which Indians take for granted, are now being hard sold by the tour operators.
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