Tourist inflow to Agency picks up

VISAKHAPATNAM: With the threat of bauxite mining agitations having taken a backseat, the Visakha Agency witnessed an influx of tourists in November.
According to tourism industry sources, the inflow is expected to continue until February due to the chilly weather conditions prevailing in places such as Araku, Lammasinghi and Anantagiri in the district.
Speaking to TOI, APTDC divisional manager Bapuji P said, "The rooms at APTDC hotels are running full until January. We are witnessing 100% occupancy levels due to the drop in temperatures in the last one month." He said that the rail-cum-road tour package offered by APTDC has witnessed a two-three fold jump in the last one month due to heavy inflow of tourists.
"Usually we have around 100 people opting for the rail-cum-road tour package, but now we are seeing around 200-300 people coming daily for a tour of the Agency," he said, adding that the corporation has taken additional buses on hire to cater to the tourists.
Founder of visakhatourism.com Subhajit Biswas said, "On a daily basis, we have been noticing around 5-7 bookings for a tour to Araku and neighbouring places since November. Normally, we see about 5-7 bookings weekly during the off season."
Pointing out that the tourism industry had been affected due to cyclone Hudhud last year, Biswas said, "We had a huge decline in tourist inflow last year because of the cyclone and it was a big blow to the industry. But, thankfully this year things have improved and a large number of foreigners are also coming to visit us." However, he said, "If not for the recent floods in Chennai, we could have expected more number of tourists."
"Thankfully, the state government has taken the decision to withdraw bauxite mining at the correct time. Otherwise the entire tourism sector would have been affected due to the agitations from the tribals. This season makes up for almost 50-60% of the tourism arrivals for the entire year in Araku and other neighbouring places. Any decision on continuing bauxite mining would have been a big blow to not only hotels, but also to eateries, cab operators, guides as well as the local population," said the manager of a cab rental service in the city.
"While many of the local people are now going to Sabarimala, a large number of tourists from West Bengal and Odisha are visiting our city," he added.