Cauvery protest hits tourism in Karnataka
September 13 (TravelAndy): Following protests regarding the river Cauvery, tourism has taken a blow in several cities including Bengaluru and Mysuru in India’s Karnataka state.
After India’s top court directed Karnataka state to share a fixed volume of Cauvery river water with its neighbouring state Tamil Nadu, protest against the decision erupted across the state.
Vandalism, road blockade and violence has crippled Bengaluru, the state capital and has also affected Mysuru, an important tourist destination.
Hotel occupancy has gone down to an average of 10 per cent and some hotels have reported zero occupancy, M. Rajendra, president of Karnataka hotel owners; association told The Hindu newspaper.
“Tourists are citing the bandh (strike) as reason and seeking refund,” Rajendra added.
Tourists have started cancelling their hotel bookings in both Bengaluru and Mysuru, both of which serve as gateways to many popular tourists attractions.
Popular tourist spots such as Mysuru Palace and Mysuru Zoo have also witnessed significant drop in tourist footfall.
“We receive around 3,000 visitors on regular days, and the number jumps to 10,000 during holidays and weekends. However, due to the protests, the number of visitors coming to the zoo has come down drastically.” K Kamala, executive director, Mysuru Zoo, told The Times of India.
Tourism in places that are usually reached via Mysuru like Wayanad in Kerala and Ooty in Tamil Nadu have also been affected.
Visitors are also avoiding important tourist destinations like Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Kokkare Bellur, Gaganachukki waterfall, Muthathi, Hemagiri, Shivanasamudra, Shimsha, Melkote, and Kerethonnur in Karnataka.
