Bandh called by BJP unlikely to impact tourists to Mysuru

Mysuru: Tourism stake holders including the Hotel Owners Association in Mysuru have decided not to extend their support to the bandh called by the BJP on Monday on farm loan waiver as they feel it would cause a lot of inconvenience to tourists who are flooding Mysuru at the moment. 

"The tourist flow to Mysuru had dropped by over 30 percent during the polls between April 12 and May 12 compared to previous years but has picked up now. There is 95 percent occupancy in hotel rooms during the weekends now and 85 percent during week days. Also because of the Nipah scare in Kerala, most tourists from other states are cancelling their trips to the neighbouring state and coming to Mysuru which is why the number of tourists visiting the Heritage City has increased by 30 percent compared to previous years," Hotel owners association head Mr Narayangowda said. There were as many 24,138 visitors to Mysuru Zoo on Sunday and  20,796 tourists  on Saturday. 

Meanwhile Sugarcane growers' association head Mr Kurbur Shanthakumar told the media in Mysuru that they had not been contacted by BJP leaders on the bandh adding that they wanted to give time to the new coalition government and hence were not extending support to the bandh. "Once the cabinet is formed, we will meet the CM and will put forth our demands," Mr Shanthakumar said.  

Veteran politician JD (S) MLA Mr Adagur H Vishwanath said that it was not right for the BJP to call for a bandh without giving enough time to the new coalition government and much before the cabinet was formed. Mr Vishwanath who visited the Suttur Math seer Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji on Saturday and Adichunchangiri Math seer Sri Somanath Swamiji in Mysuru  on Sunday, said, "If I get a ministerial berth, I will join hands with Mr Kumaraswamy and work for the development of the state, or else I will support him to help him strengthen his position," he said.