Omicron: Mysuru tourism takes a hit

Shilpa P.

Mysuru: Tourism in Mysuru which was badly hit during the first and second waves of the pandemic, had picked up by Dasara this year but has been hit again due to the Omicron scare.

At least 90 percent of hotel rooms in Mysuru used to be booked by tourists for the Christmas holidays and new year. But this year, after Omicron cases were reported in the state, 60 per cent of the 85 percent rooms which were booked at the beginning of the month have been cancelled, according to Mysuru hotel owners association head Mr C Narayangowda.

Mr Prashanth BS of Mysuru travel agents association said that of the 75 percent bookings of vehicles or tourism packages they had in the first week of the month, 45 percent have been cancelled. “After the financial crisis due to the two waves of Covid, people either do not have money to spend or those who have money, want to save it for the future, fearing a third wave if it happens,” he said.

Mr Narayangowda added, “There are 405 hotels with 9,500 rooms in Mysuru. After lockdown restrictions, the occupancy of hotel rooms had reduced to 20 percent but rose to 70 percent by April 2021. It again fell to 50 percent at the peak of the second wave and increased to 100 percent by Dasara. But after Omicron cases were reported in the state, the occupancy has dropped to 50 percent. Usually fifty percent of the tourists during week ends and forty percent of the tourists during week days used to be from other states. But now, only 25 percent of tourists during week ends and 5 percent tourists during week days are from other states. Among tourists from other states, 20 percent used to be from Kerala, now it is only five percent.