Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Oct 2: This year’s Kudla Dasara has given a much-needed boost to tourism in the coastal region, with an increase in domestic tourist arrivals in recent days. However, the presence of foreign tourists remains minimal. Encouragingly, the hotel industry has reported a positive response, signalling signs of recovery.

For the past few months, continuous rains and the impact of communal unrest had led to a decline in tourist inflow to the coast. Foreign tourists are yet to show significant interest in visiting coastal Karnataka. Particularly, due to restrictions on beach entry during the monsoon, the number of visitors to beaches has been considerably low.

Mangaluru Dasara at Kudroli (File pic)

This year, the coastal districts faced setbacks from heavy monsoon rains and the communal unrest in May, which impacted tourism activities. However, in the past two weeks, there has been a noticeable increase in tourist arrivals, which is expected to provide a much-needed boost to the industry. Experts, however, point out that the absence of foreign tourists is not a positive development for the coastal economy. Compared to last year’s Dasara, tourist movements have been lower this time.

According to hoteliers, fewer tourists have been arriving from other districts during this year’s festivities. With Dasara vacations for children, there has been a slight increase in families visiting the coast. Many people of coastal origin choose to stay for at least a week during this time, either with relatives or in hotels. This trend has resulted in steady bookings at major hotels in the region.

The Dakshina Kannada district administration restricts entry to beaches during the monsoon. While tourists may visit the coast, they are not allowed to enter beaches during this period. Tourism department deputy director Dileep Kumar said the restrictions will be lifted after October, and the number of beach visitors is expected to rise significantly thereafter.

Currently, most tourists spotted in the region are locals or those from neighbouring districts. During Navaratri, more people are seen visiting temples than tourist destinations. According to tour guides, Dasara provides an opportunity for ‘experience tourism’ – exploring coastal culture, traditions, cuisine, and lifestyle. However, the lack of interest in such experiences has contributed to the decline in tourist numbers.

The ‘Dasara Darshini’ tour package, organized by Mangaluru KSRTC for the past four years, has again seen strong demand this year. On September 28, the Mangaluru division operated 28 buses carrying 1,179 tourists to various temples. Of these, 9 buses went to Kollur, 9 to Sigandur, 5 to Mangaluru, 3 to Madikeri, and 2 to Udupi. According to Rajesh Shetty, senior divisional controller of Mangaluru KSRTC, nearly 2,000 devotees travelled on a single day.