Mamallapuram grappling with gloom after basking in Modi, Xi euphoria

The transition from euphoria to gloom, in a matter of a few months is just hard to believe for a host of people here like master artisans and hoteliers.

The empty beachfronts and deserted world heritage monument site sans tourists offers a peek into the harrowing times being endured by them.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping's summit here last October, more and more tourists especially foreigners descended here, an ancient sea port town.

"Occupancy rate spiked and we saw about 25 per cent increase in business immediately after the high level summit and further growth prospects were really promising," says Mamallapuram Hotels Association President N Janardanam.

"The summit no doubt gave a much needed facelift with spic and span public spaces, and when lighting was put up at monument sites, it lured more evening crowds," he says.

When hoteliers like him were hoping to further build on the feel good factor and increase business, the lockdown kicked in.

"Even if the government allows us to reopen now, it is difficult for us to do it as a chunk of employees have gone back to their native places and others want to go," he says.

Guest workers from states like Jharkhand are a key link in the chain of the workforce at Mamallapuram which is dotted with a string of hotels both star rated and others besides restaurants.

H Janakiraman, an accredited tourist guide says only when public transportation including train and air services were restored could those like him and other businesses have "some hope."
"We depend on tourist arrivals both domestic and foreigners."
"When normalcy will return is the big question...our assessment is that it may take several months from now."
Looking pensive, Devaraj, a recipient of national and state awards for his craftsmanship estimates that "easily over 400 hundred statues are waiting to be sent to customers."