Hotels, resorts fully booked for long weekend in Mysore, Malnad

MYSURU: Hotels and resorts in the Mysuru region, mainly in Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Shivamogga, Kodagu, Hassan, and Chikkamagaluru, are booked to the hilt, thanks to the extended weekend.

While during the end of December, 2021, the bookings have crossed over 80% for the first time since March 2020, the extended holidays have brought back zing in the tourism sector, ahead of the peak season. Till the middle of next week, hotels, resorts, and homestays are fully occupied, which has brought back smiles on the faces of stakeholders in the industry.

Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts are witnessing a huge flow of tourists to heritage sites and forest areas. In Mysuru city, the palace and zoo witnessed a huge crowd since early morning. Heavy rush was reported from Srirangapatna, another important tourist spot of the region.

U B Uday Kumar, assistant general manager, hotels, KSTDC, one of the main stakeholders of the hotel industry in the Old Mysuru region, informed that there was 100% booking in all the hotels till April 19. “We are witnessing a huge response this long weekend,” he said.

According to B S Prashant, president of Mysuru Travels’ Association, there is a sudden surge in bookings. “No accommodation or vehicles are available to meet the demand. People are thronging in large numbers to all the tourist destinations,” he said. “A new trend is that a majority of tourists are arriving in groups, instead of travelling individually. This resulted in more demand for buses and Tempo Travelers,” he said.

The situation is not different in Kodagu. The district has witnessed a huge flow of tourists, especially from Bengaluru city.

Kodagu Resorts and Hotel Owners Association president B R Nagendra Prasad said that till the end of the March, the number of tourists coming to the district was less. “However, after 15 days, the bookings in resorts are high,” he said.

Club Mahindra regional head Vijayamohan informed that over 90% of the rooms in resorts are already booked. Many tourists are engaged in trekking, picnics and visiting coffee plantations. They avoid crowded places. Some youths come to resorts and work online in their rooms, he said.

More that 400 homestays and resorts in Chikkamagaluru, and more than 50 homestays in Shivamogga have been filled up for this weekend. Vikram, owner of Barekal farm-stay in Hosanagar taluk of Shivamogga said that people are flooding towards Malnad during holidays, and his farm-stay has been booked till next week. According to him, people booked his establishment for family events too, during the extended weekend.

Rajesh Kamath, director of Jungle Lodges and Resorts, which is attached to the forest department, said that all 28 active lodges in Karnataka have filled up for the next four-five days.

Hassan is also witnessing a huge flow of tourists. “There are more bookings from families, as schoolchildren are on holidays. In the last 2 months, we haven’t seen even 10% of regular tourist flow,” said Harish, secretary, Resorts Owners Association. A majority of tourists are from Bengaluru. “Usually, we have a regular inflow of tourists on Saturday and Sunday from Bengaluru. Now that the financial year has ended, and also as trekking points are open, this long weekend and good climate can attract more tourists. We are expecting 40% more tourists,” said tourism deputy director Sanjay.

News Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysuru/hotels-resorts-fully-booked-for-long-weekend-in-mysuru-malnad/articleshow/90854991.cms