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Published on : Friday, October 30, 2020
Tourism sector stakeholders in Kodaikanal have urged the state government to do away with the e-pass system to increase tourist inflow to the hill station. They have also sought to open the tourist spots such as Guna Cave, Pine Forest, Moir Point and Pillar Rock, which are maintained by the forest department.
Tourists were allowed to Kodaikanal from September 9 by easing down the lockdown restrictions. However, e-pass was made mandatory. The restriction was relaxed only for those travelling through public transport, which has not benefited much as bus services are yet to begin.
Due to this, traders say, they are under tremendous pressure of paying wages to their employees and keep their families afloat.
A Abbas, president of Integrated Traders Association said, “The hill station witnessed decent trade activities for the first two weekends, after tourists were allowed to visit using e-pass. But, it has fell flat after that. Not many are visiting due to e-pass system.”
M Michael, president of the newly-formed Kodaikanal Hills Tourism Development Council said that many people, who want to visit the hill station get disappointed as they their applications are not getting approved.
The approval of e-pass is mired in opaqueness as there is no information shared on the public domain on number of applications approved in a day and rejections.
Tags: e-pass, tourists in Kodaikanal