Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru/Udupi
Mangaluru/Udupi, Dec 25: The coastal region is witnessing a surge in tourism during the Christmas, year-end, and New Year celebrations. The allure of the coast has drawn a growing number of tourists, resulting in a notable increase in visitors.
As a consequence, from December 20 to the first week of January, nearly all upscale and mid-range hotels, lodges, resorts, homestays, serviced apartments, and beach guesthouses in Mangaluru and Udupi are fully booked by pre-arranged reservations.
Families, especially those with children, are in the holiday spirit, taking advantage of the Christmas break. Coastal temples, tourist attractions, and beaches are bustling with crowds, attracting thousands of tourists mainly from different districts of Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
Tourism is gradually recovering after the impact of Covid-19, and this year's December numbers surpass those of the previous year. Dharmasthala, Kollur, Udupi Ashtamath, Kateelu, and Kukke Subrahmanya are experiencing substantial footfalls, expected to persist until the year-end.
This season, more than ever, young couples are choosing coastal destinations for their weddings, turning them into destination weddings. People from coastal regions, primarily from Mumbai and Delhi, are opting to book accommodations in local hotels to celebrate their weddings in these picturesque settings.
Compared to Mumbai, where wedding costs are high, and hosting banquets can be expensive, tying the knot in religious places on the coast proves to be a more cost-effective option. Many are embracing this trend, and the influx of non-resident Indians for tours post-Covid has further fueled coastal tourism.
In Dakshina Kannada, 90% of homestays are occupied, with most located in Mangaluru taluk, especially Ullal and Suratkal near the coastline. Homestays and hut homes in Malpe, Kapu, and Kundapur coastal areas of Udupi district are fully booked. In Mangaluru city, there are a total of 100 hotels across various classes, with approximately 6000 rooms fully occupied.
Additionally, 40% of service apartments are also occupied. Various shopping malls in Mangaluru, Udupi city, major restaurants, and ice cream parlours in the city have also reported an increase in customers.
According to the tourism department, religious centers have seen increased footfall in the last 11 months. Kukke Subrahmanya tops the list with 72,03,800 visitors, followed by Dharmasthala with 65,05,380 and Kateelu with 56,59,300. Among the beaches, Panambur stands out with 11,69,800 visitors. Thannirubavi Beach attracted 10,22,900 visitors, while 6.04 lakh people visited Pilikula Nature Reserve.
In Udupi, Malpe Beach has attracted 62,33,970 visitors this year, while Kapu Beach, known for its scuba diving facility, welcomed 33,93,096 visitors. Despite St Mary's Island being closed during the rainy season, it has drawn 35,57,850 visitors during the rest of the year.