ISLAND IDYLL
JACOB GLADWIN 33 HOMESTAY OWNER, KOTHAD, KOCHI
The scenic Kothad island had the potential to be a great tourist destination. It was remote, yet close to the port city of Kochi. But even as Kerala went through a tourism boom, Kothad remained a poor island of fishermen. Till Jacob George Gladwin decided to do something about it. A native of Kadamakkudy village in Kothad, Gladwin loved its mesmeric surroundings. After his marriage to Chinchu in 2010, he decided to set up a homestay here with friend Benny Xavier. It was a time when the Kerala government was promoting homestays, so the couple started visiting a few of them to understand how they were run. “We wanted to offer a different experience to our guests. We have a great ambience and an exotic location on the backwaters. But it was not enough. So we consulted with people who had experience in running homestays in rural areas,” says Gladwin.
On their travels, Chinchu had a great idea—their homestay would be a reflection of life in a backwaters village. It meant the full experience—food delicacies, river adventures, fishing, even overnight stays on riverboats. “We customise Ben’s Homestay according to the guest’s demands. Some of them even want cooking lessons during their stay,” says 27-year-old Chinchu.
The guiding principle in the business has been to keep guests happy. They bought a fishing boat and had it converted with two bedrooms so that guests could enjoy overnight river rides. They also promoted the homestay on social media, so that business wouldn’t taper off in the off-season.
“More than money or profits, the business helps us to be innovative,” says Gladwin. They are now planning to launch corporate packages as well. “Our research found that many corporate houses are looking for remote, unique retreats for business meetings. We are marketing Ben’s as an ideal location for such affairs,” Chinchu says.
The couple and their friends are committed to keeping their village and island plastic-free and have now launched a monthly campaign to clean the Periyar river.
“We get lots of tourists from Ben’s Homestay. They get to enjoy our best toddy and food delicacies, and our business is booming” Haridas, toddy shop owner in Kadamakkudy