The stakeholders of tourism industry in Kodagu are all smiles as the first-ever Kodagu Pravasi Utsav is expected to give a much-needed fillip to the sector by restoring tourist footfall that had taken a beating after last year’s floods.
The hill station is in a festive mood with a slew of programmes being held as part of the utsav for tourists. The three-day event will conclude on Sunday.
To regain the confidence of those banking on tourism economy, Karnataka Tourism and Kodagu district administration came up with the event.
“The utsav has helped send out a message that Kodagu is safe. Tourists can carry with them memories of an unforgettable visit. We must thank the Tourism Department and the district administration for putting up this event that aimed to bring back the past glory of the land,” said B.R. Nagendra Prasad, president, Kodagu District Hotels, Resorts, and Restaurant Owners’ Association.
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Prasad said Madikeri and its surrounding tourist locales were witnessing heavy traffic density with tourists thronging the place.
Hotels, resorts and homestays were witnessing around 80% to 85% occupancy although this is not a peak tourist season.
Tourism Department Director B. Ramu described the utsav as “successful” and said it will make an impact in restoring the hill station’s strength as a popular destination in Karnataka.
B.S. Prashanth, president, Mysore Travels Association, said: “The message we wanted to send out was that Kodagu is safe to visit. If the event was organised before New Year, it could have had a much bigger impact.”
The utsav includes cultural programmes, flower show, canine show, open street festival, food mela, and much more.