Seasonal tourists double; throng Mysuru, cooler destinations around city

Price rise: Cost of resorts up by 30 per cent, travel cost up by 20 per cent

Mysuru: The Indo-Pak tension has not affected seasonal tourists' inflow to Mysuru and other tourist destinations around the city. In fact, it has doubled, compared to off season. But, there has been a minor dip in the tourists' inflow from North Indian states.

Due to the rise in the cost of commodities, tariff of resorts and travel expenses have increased drastically, compared to the previous year and off season. Yet, tourists are not deterred.

During the off season - from March 1 to 12 - there were 70,104 visitors to Mysuru Palace. In April, when the tourists' season began after exams - from April 1 to 12 - there were 1,30,838 visitors to the Palace. Now, during the peak tourists' season - May 1 to 12 - there have been 1,96,848 visitors to the Palace. The tourists' inflow to the palace has been higher compared to last year. During May 1 to 12, last year, there were 1,76,527 visitors, according to official data from the Mysuru Palace Board.

Sources at Mysuru Zoo said that they are seeing almost double the number of seasonal tourists, compared to off season in March.

Dip in tourists from North India

"People are thronging Mysuru and cooler destinations with nature and wildlife like Kabini, Nagarahole, Bandipur, B R Hills, Kodagu, Sakleshpur, Chikkamagaluru. However, due to the Indo-Pak tension, there has been a 5 per cent to 10 per cent dip in seasonal tourists from North Indian states, compared to the seasonal tourists last year," said former vice-president of Karnataka Tourism Forum M Ravi.

Mysuru Hotel Owners' Association president C Narayana Gowda said, "In Mysuru city alone, there are 10,500 rooms in 25 star category hotels and 400 hotels and lodges. During the peak season, now, the occupancy has been 75 per cent during week days and 90 per cent during weekends. During the off season, in March, the occupancy used to be 40 per cent during week days and 70 per cent to 75 per cent during weekends. However due to the Indo-Pak tension, many from North Indian states like Gujarat and Maharashtra have cancelled their bookings. Now, 70 per cent are domestic tourists from Karnataka, 25 per cent to 30 per cent are from Southern states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu."

Cost up by 30 per cent

Ravi informed that the tariff of resorts have gone up by at least 25 per cent, compared to last year and also compared to normal days.

Narayana Gowda endorsed this and said, "Due to an increase in electricity tariff, the cost of milk price, LPG, groceries, transportation of materials due to fuel price hike and others, the tariff of hotel rooms has increased by 30 per cent in 25 star category hotels in Mysuru and resorts around Mysuru in one year and also compared to off season."

Ravi added, "The transport expenses have increased by 10 per cent to 20 per cent, compared to last year, due to hike in diesel/petrol prices, life time tax on two to 15-year-old vehicles and compulsory installation of panic buttons (connected to police control room) for all vehicles to avail FC (fitness certificate). Yet the tourists' flow is good."

People visiting other states

As tourists from Karnataka are thronging Ooty, the Tamil Nadu government has restricted prior permit for vehicles to 6,000 per day, said Ravi.

Even though only a portion of Wayanad was affected due to landslides last year, tourists inflow was affected during that period. But now, enquiry and visit of tourists from Karnataka and other places to Wayanad has picked to 70 per cent, according to Subhash Chandra, general manager of a resort at Vellamunda in Wayanad.