A day after Dasara, tourists inflow to the city continued unabated, with the main roads leading to the palace choking with traffic. The extended weekend with public holiday on Monday on account of Gandhi Jayanti has increased the number of tourists vacationing in Mysuru. Apart from the palace, similar rush was witnessed at the zoo, Chamundi Hills, and Brindavan Gardens.
Most hotels which confirmed 80 to 90% occupancy rate during the last two days of Dasara are reporting a similar surge in bookings owing to the inflow of tourists on Sunday as well as Monday. Besides, the peak tourism season also coincides with the onset of October or immediately after Dasara. Narayan Gowda, President, Hotel Owners’ Association told The Hindu that the crowd witnessed at the venues of various cultural programmes or the food mela held during Dasara means little to the hospitality sector as people thronging to these places tend to be local residents.
“This is true with respect to the first few days of the festival as well and it is only during the last two days of Dasara that there is a surge in the bookings for accommodation that is financially remunerative to the sector,” he added. There are nearly 7,000 rooms in the city and cater to tourists of all categories ranging from those in the budget segment to niche visitors preferring luxury accommodation and most hotels are reporting a good turnover, according to Mr. Gowda. The post-Dasara rush will continue till Diwali, he added. Besides, drought has ebbed to a large extent following a sudden revival of monsoon during August-September and has shored up the festive mood. But this was not the case last year when the Cauvery crisis cast its shadow on the festival and impacted the hospitality sector, according to the stakeholders. As a result, the hospitality sector is faring better than last year and of the nearly 7,000 rooms catering to tourists, the occupancy rates are above 80%.
A majority of the tourists visiting Mysuru are from Kerala and Tamil Nadu, accounting for more than 50% of the domestic tourism traffic that helps keep the sector afloat. Tourism and hospitality sector alone generates nearly 80,000 to 1,00,000 direct and indirect jobs and is a key driver of Mysuru’s economy.