The hospitality industry is looking forward to an increase in the tourist footfall to the city during Dasara and expects a total sell out on the last few days of the 10-day festival.
There was concern of a dip in the number of tourists this year owing to the natural calamity in Kerala and in the adjoining Kodagu district. The concerns were real as a majority of the tourists visiting Mysuru region are from Kerala.
“We are getting inquiries from tourists from Kerala which is higher than our expectations. Hence, the business during the 10 days could be better than envisaged,” Narayan Gowda, an entrepreneur in the hotel and hospitality sector, said.
Though the city has augmented its accommodation facility in recent years, it is considered inadequate during peak tourism season which commences from Dasara that will be held from October 10 to 19 this year.
Mysuru has around 8,000 rooms catering to all segments of tourists – from those in the luxury category to the majority of domestic tourists who prefer the budget and standard category rooms. Álmost 60% of the rooms have been booked so far and the occupancy rate is higher than expected. The rates tend to be at cent per cent during the last 3 to 4 days of the festival as is evident from previous years. Hence, the stakeholders expect the festival season to be a sell out this year as well.
Apart from Kerala, Mysuru receives tourists from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and a significantly high number of visitors are also from northern States. The Tourism Department has prepared an action plan to promote and hard-sell Mysuru through a publicity blitz and has earmarked ₹8.05 crore this year to lure more number of tourists.
The city is being jazzed up with decorative lights and the city has been illuminated to shore up the festival ambience all of which is expected to help promote Mysuru as a destination for all seasons.
