Most of the districts in the state might gradually limp back to normalcy as the government had eased lockdown restrictions to a great extent despite a looming threat of the COVID-19.
Government Botanical Garden, which usually draws large number of visitors, in Ooty remains shut
Coimbatore:
But normalcy seems to be a far cry for people in Nilgiris. “The continuance of a mandatory e-pass system to restrict entry of people to the district may spell further doom to the local economy. When lock down curbs have been eased in plains, why should there be exceptions to hill districts alone?” asked a cross section of stakeholder’s dependent on the tourism sector.
“We are highly disappointed that the ongoing second season has also failed to take off after a completely ruined peak summer season. Usually, a steady stream of tourists pour in to enjoy the salubrious weather in the months of September and November,” said A S Sadiq Ali, president of Ooty Cottage Owners Association.
More than 2,500 small, medium and large scale resorts and cottages in the district are lying un-occupied since the lock down.
“Neighbouring states like Kerala and Karnataka have already opened up to tourism. Even if curbs are relaxed in the Nilgiris, people may restrain from coming and there may not be much crowd, like in the past. Thereby, the occupancy in resorts and cottages would be bare minimum and just help us earn our bread and butter. Many who have taken cottages and resorts on lease and built them on loans are suffering from severe financial strain,” he added.
Echoing a similar view, V A Mohammed Jaffer, president of Nilgiri District ‘Unavaga Urimayalargal Sangam’ said that nearly around 650 hotels, bakeries and tea-stalls have been left without business due to continuing curbs.
“With just 20 percent of sales, even I had to send away a majority of workers in my three hotels post lockdown. In all, more than 2000 families involved in hotel business have been affected,” he said.
With such continuing uncertainty, representatives of numerous associations related to the tourism sector have started to put forth their demands to the district administration and state government for resumption of business in the Nilgiris.