Tourist arrival picks up in Thekkady

Tourism in Thekkady has picked up with more domestic tourist arrivals, especially from North India and Tamil Nadu.

Though the accurate number of visitors during this season will be available only by the end of it, official sources say there is not much decline in the number of visitors from that last season.

There is a decline in the number of tourists from some countries affected by the global economic crisis and the tour packages arranged by companies for its employees have fallen in number considerably, show the data available with travel agencies.

“This is not confined to Thekkady alone, but other tourism destinations in the country as well,” says Sabu Joseph, manager of a travel agency at Kumily. He says the suspension of the boat services in the wake of the boat tragedy on September 30 last year has caused an economic slowdown in Kumily, but now it is slowly recovering.

Rony James, manager of an Internet cafe in Kumily, which mostly cater to the tourists, says there is an increase in the arrival of tourists, including those from abroad. “Because of rising mercury levels, more visitors from low-range areas of the State are expected,” he says.

“However, such visitors usually come on one-day trips; they arrive mostly during vacations and holidays,” he says. Thekkady witnessed high tourist turnout during the past three days.