Cauvery issue hits tourist flow during Mysore Dasara

The inflow of foreign tourists has been very poor this year for the Mysore Dasara. In addition to that, there’s been few visitors from Tamil Nadu. “It is just the ordinary crowd. Not many foreign tourists, and very few from neighbouring states; they are mostly from Kerala,” quipped a policeman at the Palace last evening.

The policeman on duty on the fifth day’s cultural programme was in progress in front of the illuminated palace, was in a mood to relax, though he was disappointed that this year’s Dasara is not as ‘bright’ as the previous ones for many reasons.

This time around, visitors from Tamil Nadu have stayed away because of the crisis that’s erupted over the Cauvery water sharing.

 

“Amidst the local crowd, we can see some visitors from Kerala, but none from Tamil Nadhu. Generally, many visitors came to Mysore from that state during the festive period, but not this year,” he remarked.

“Though one could spot some foreigners, there are not many. Not the usual numbers seen during Dasara’s festive days as in the previous years,” he ventured to say.

“Even the palace lights are not as bright as they used to be. May be there is some problem with voltage,” he said when it was pointed out the lights were switched off some 10 minutes ahead of the general switching off time of 9 pm.

“Scanty rains have hit crops in villages. Farmers are worried and are caught up in ther own problems. They are also busy trying to save whatever crop they can taking advantage of the rains during the last 3-4 days. Hence, they are in no mood to come to Mysore now,” the constable added.

Everyone seems to be of the opinion that the Cauvery issue has negatively impacted tourist flow this season. “The agitation has thrown a shadow over tourism. Even if we get 50 per cent of last year’s response, it will be good,” remarked Mysore Travel Agents’ Association General Secretary A C Ravi. The gold cards seem to have been purchased mostly by the locals.

“Because of the Cauvery agitation, a large number of hotel bookings were cancelled,” he said while reiterating the travel agents’ support to Karnataka’s stand on releasing Cauvery water to the neighbouring state.

“Tourism has taken a beating,” remarked a restaurant owner in the heart of the city. “For us, it is normal business. Nothing special about Dasara,” said its owner Kundar.

A travel agent remarked that not many from Kerala were coming to Mysore because of police harassment. “The moment they (police) see a Kerala vehicle, they try to fleece them. The visitors are harassed to the maximum. On the other hand, those visiting Kerala are not harassed. Kerala knows how to encash on tourism. Here, till recently, we did not have a Minister for Tourism at all,” he remarked.