Come April and it may not be just casual holidayers who will be making their way to the city. Apart from beaches, temples and museums, the city has something extra on offer — a chance to view an election, up close and personal.
Taking advantage of the election fever that has gripped the country, an Ahmedabad-based travel agency is offering ‘election tours’ — guided trips to various parts of the country, to take in the “colour, noise, controversies and drama” — its website says — inherent in a vibrant democracy.
And cities in Tamil Nadu, including Udhagamandalam, Coimbatore and Chennai may make it to the list. “We began in 2012 with the Gujarat Assembly elections when we realised that many foreign tourists, especially researchers and students, were interested in getting a first-hand experience of elections in India. This time around, we got a lot of enquiries about south India, and decided to offer Tamil Nadu in our packages,” said Lav Sharma, marketing manager, Akshar Tours.
What the tours offer, he said, is a chance to participate in political rallies, public assemblies and potential meetings with candidates and other politicians — all depending on availability and permissions. The tour will also include a rural segment, to see how campaigning is different there. For Tamil Nadu, two sectors are proposed, said Shiji Sreejith of Intersight Tours & Travels, Kochi, which is handling the south India sector for Akshar. “The first one will cover Bangalore, Mysore, Udhagamandalam, Kodaikanal and Coimbatore, while another covers Rameswaram, Kanyakumari, Chennai, Puducherry and Mamallapuram,” she said.
If permission is given, they would try and get tourists to follow politicians on their campaign trail, she said.
Costs of the tour start from U.S. $ 1,200 to 1,600 per person for seven days for any one sector. The cost includes, according to Akshar Tours, hotel accommodation, transport by air-conditioned vehicles, all meals and an English-speaking guide. So far, Akshar Tours has received 250-odd interested queries for south India from Germany, U.K., non-resident Indians in the U.S., Israel, Ukraine and a few from Africa, Mr. Sharma said. “While some are families, most are single travellers,” he said.
Dharmesh Patel, an NRI living in St. Louis, Missouri, who came for an ‘election tour’ to Gujarat in 2012, said the experience was incredible. Speaking to The Hindu from the U.S., he said, “It was like a festival. Autos had banners and everyone was involved. We also got to see the candidates in action. Here, you hardly know that elections are happening.”
But how far is it feasible? “While the concept is interesting, will tourists really be welcomed during the election process? And how much will they understand and enjoy,” asks Charanya Ramesh, CEO of city-based Shakti Tours and Travels.
