Caravan Tourism in Tirupati Does Not Move Beyond Initial Hoopla
Operators say these costs make the service largely unaffordable for middle-income visitors.
TIRUPATI: Caravan tourism in Tirupati, launched with a demo as part of Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu’s vision to encourage devotees of Tirumala to visit nearby places of tourist attraction, has failed to evoke interest among pilgrims.
In the first week of February, Tourism officials showcased a caravan vehicle in Tirupati city in the presence of district officials. However, there has been no further movement on the project.
Tirupati is one of the most visited pilgrimage destinations in the country. It continues to attract a steady flow of devotees heading to Tirumala. Despite this strong footfall, the city has struggled to build a strong tourism profile. Most visitors leave soon after darshan, with limited options to extend their stay due to the lack of organised leisure, cultural and recreational attractions.
Caravan tourism had been projected as one initiative that could offer flexible travel options for small groups, allowing visitors to explore nearby destinations with comfort and at their convenience.
Planned under a public-private partnership model, the caravan project aimed at private operators offering vehicles equipped with modern facilities. However, the pricing structure ended up being a major concern. A one-day caravan experience for a group of five to eight persons had been priced at around ₹30,000. For travel beyond 300 km, tourists are required to pay about ₹100 per km. As a result, the overall cost of the caravan would be around ₹50,000 per day.
Operators say these costs make the service largely unaffordable for middle-income visitors.
Further, beyond showcasing the caravan, Tourism department made no efforts to popularise the facility with clear timelines and details of places that could be visited. Thus, the project remained a proposal and did not translate into action
Tourism officials, however, maintain that the caravan project has not been shelved. “It had been introduced as a promotional activity. We will hold discussions with operators again and review the situation. Caravan services will be made available soon,” a senior official stated.
