FROM ROYALTY TO GLOBAL LEADERS, SPICE ROUTES TAKES KERALA’S BACKWATERS TO THE WORLD ALLEPPEY, KERALA:

FROM ROYALTY TO GLOBAL LEADERS, SPICE ROUTES TAKES KERALA’S BACKWATERS TO THE WORLD
ALLEPPEY, KERALA: ‎The backwaters of Kerala are more than a tourism destination. They are a living landscape of rivers, canals, paddy fields, villages, traditional occupations, cuisine, culture and communities that have evolved around the water for generations.
For Spice Routes Luxury Cruises, this unique environment is both an opportunity and a responsibility. Established in 2008, Spice Routes has built its identity around providing a premium Kerala houseboat experience while maintaining professional standards of hospitality, safety, cleanliness and responsible tourism. Over the years, the company has welcomed royalty, international dignitaries, senior government and defence personalities, film’s stars, business leaders and travelers from across the world.
Its journey reflects a larger vision — to take the story of Kerala’s backwaters to the world while helping preserve the destination for future generations.
A ROYAL CHAPTER IN THE SPICE ROUTES JOURNEY
One of the most memorable milestones in the company’s history came in October 2019, when His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands visited the Alleppey backwaters during their State Visit to India.
The Royal Couple experienced the backwaters aboard a Spice Routes Luxury Houseboat, travelling through the unique landscape of Kuttanad and experiencing Kerala’s distinctive water-based way of life.
The company has since continued to host prominent personalities from India and abroad, including Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister of Bahrain; the late Sheila Dikshit, former Chief Minister of Delhi; Dr. Harsh Vardhan; Admiral Sunil Lanba, international business leaders and other distinguished local and international guests.
More recently, Spice Routes had the privilege of hosting His Excellency Sergio Gor and Mr. Michael Boulos aboard its luxury houseboat in Alleppey. Their experience included the spectacular landscapes of Kuttanad and witnessing the traditional snake boat race.
For the company, these visits have reinforced one important belief: the Kerala houseboat experience can meet international expectations without losing its local identity.
DIAMOND CLASSIFICATION — A COMMITMENT TO STANDARDS
Spice Routes has consistently focused on professionalising the luxury houseboat experience. Its vessels operate under Kerala Tourism classification standards, with Diamond Classified vessels, reflecting the company’s emphasis on quality, facilities, safety, hygiene and professional operations.
The company believes that luxury is not only about interiors and appearance. True luxury is the confidence that everything has been professionally prepared.
SAFETY AND PROFESSIONALISM AT THE CORE
A houseboat operates in a unique environment where hospitality and safety have to work together. Spice Routes places emphasis on vessel maintenance, statutory documentation, crew licensing, first-aid preparedness, cleanliness, safety procedures and regular operational checks.
Boat crews — including the Serang/boat driver, chef and service personnel — form an important part of the guest experience. The company places importance on service discipline, guest interaction, hygiene, safety awareness and professional conduct.
For Spice Routes, safety is not an additional feature of luxury hospitality. It is the foundation of it.
EMPLOYMENT, LOCAL SOURCING AND THE COMMUNITY
The economic value of tourism extends far beyond the guest who boards a houseboat. Spice Routes believes that the benefits of luxury tourism should reach the communities that make the backwater experience possible.
The company provides direct and indirect employment opportunities to local people through boat crews, chefs, service personnel, operations, administration, housekeeping, maintenance and supporting services. It also gives importance to local purchasing and sourcing wherever practical. Food products, vegetables, fish and other provisions, maintenance materials and various operational requirements are sourced through local suppliers and businesses as much as possible. This creates a wider local economic cycle, allowing tourism revenue to support families, suppliers, service providers and small businesses in the region.
The philosophy is straightforward: Tourism should not merely bring visitors to Kerala. It should create opportunities for Kerala.
FROM WASTE MANAGEMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS
Spice Routes believes that every tourism operator has a responsibility to ensure that tourism does not damage the environment that sustains the destination.
The company has been following responsible tourism practices for several years, with emphasis on:
Responsible waste management
Segregation of waste
Maintaining high standards of cleanliness
Reducing unnecessary use of plastic
Responsible disposal of non-biodegradable waste
Appropriate handling of biodegradable waste
Efficient use of water and other resources
Environmental awareness among guests and employees
Maintaining clean surroundings around operational areas
Encouraging responsible behaviour among visitors and staff
Spice Routes believes that environmental responsibility cannot remain a policy document. It must become part of the daily discipline of operating a houseboat.
PRESERVING A LIVING HERITAGE
The backwaters are not simply rivers and canals. They are a living heritage connected with Kuttanad’s below-sea-level farming, traditional agriculture, fishing, coir, village communities, local cuisine, festivals, snake boat races and generations of people whose lives are connected to the water.
Protecting the backwaters therefore means protecting an entire way of life. The responsible tourism should allow visitors to enjoy this heritage while encouraging greater appreciation for the environment and communities that sustain it. The company’s association with responsible tourism initiatives, including its engagement with local systems and the Responsible Tourism Mission, reflects its belief that tourism and conservation must move together.
“THE BACKWATERS ARE OUR GREATEST ASSET — AND OUR GREATEST RESPONSIBILITY”
Speaking about the company’s journey and its vision for the future, Jobin J. Akkarakalam, Managing Partner, Spice Routes Luxury Cruises, said:
“Hosting Their Majesties the King and Queen of the Netherlands in 2019 was an extremely proud moment for all of us. It demonstrated that a Kerala houseboat experience can meet the highest expectations of international guests while remaining rooted in our own culture and environment.”
He added: “But recognition and luxury come with responsibility. The backwaters are our greatest tourism asset, and they are also our greatest responsibility. If we want future generations to experience the beauty of Alleppey, we must protect the ecosystem today. Responsible tourism cannot be the responsibility of one company or one houseboat. Operators, government agencies, local communities, tourism stakeholders and visitors all have a role to play. We all have a stake in keeping the backwaters clean, safe and beautiful.”
LOOKING AHEAD: THE FUTURE OF LUXURY BACKWATER TOURISM
Spice Routes believes Alleppey has the potential to become one of India’s leading destinations for luxury experiential and responsible tourism.
Kuttanad’s unique below-sea-level landscape, extensive waterways, traditional villages, agriculture, cuisine, culture and hospitality create an experience that cannot easily be replicated elsewhere.
The company believes that the future of Kerala’s houseboat industry should be based on:
Professionalism, Safety, Quality, Environmental responsibility, Local employment.
Local procurement, Community participation,,And preservation of Kerala’s heritage.
The objective is not simply to attract more visitors, but to create a tourism model where the destination itself benefits from the visitors it welcomes.
“The Royal visit in 2019 showed us that the world is watching Alleppey,” said Jobin. “Our responsibility now is to make sure that when international guests come here, they experience not only luxury, but the very best of Kerala — and that the backwaters they experience today are protected for tomorrow.”
ABOUT SPICE ROUTES LUXURY CRUISES
Spice Routes Luxury Cruises, established in 2008, is a premium luxury houseboat company based in Alleppey, Kerala.
The company offers curated cruising experiences through the Kerala backwaters, combining luxury accommodation, personalised hospitality, Kerala cuisine, local experiences and professional service. With Diamond Classified vessels, Spice Routes places strong emphasis on quality, safety, cleanliness, operational discipline and guest satisfaction.
The company is committed to responsible tourism, local employment, local sourcing and the preservation of the natural, cultural and community heritage of Alleppey and Kuttanad.
Spice Routes Luxury Cruises seeks to present the finest of Kerala’s backwaters to the world while contributing to the protection and sustainable future of the destination.
MEDIA CONTACT
Mr. Jobin J. Akkarakalam Mr. Rojes Joseph
Managing Partner GM – Sales & Marketting
Spice Routes Luxury Cruises Spice Routes Luxury Cruises
Alleppey, Kerala‌