Summer Heat, High Airfares Affect Tourist Inflow to Vizag, ASR
Last year the number was more around the same time but this year it is remarkably less
VISAKHAPATNAM: High temperatures, the threat of heatwaves and increased airfares are affecting tourist arrivals to destinations in and around Visakhapatnam and Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district.
Most tourist locations witnessed poor footfall on Friday, while museums and parks managed by the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) recorded lower attendance compared to the corresponding period last year.
According to VMRDA officials, the Telugu Museum atop Kailasagiri Hill recorded 47 visitors, the Helicopter Museum 252, Sea Harrier Museum 250, TU-142 Aircraft Museum 1,476, INS Kurusura Submarine Museum 2,422, Thotlakonda Buddhist site 1,137, Kailasagiri Hill 7,291, VMRDA Park 2,375 and Central Park 1,786 visitors.
“Last year the number was more around the same time but this year it is remarkably less,” a tourism official said.
A similar situation prevails in ASR district, where tourist footfall has fallen to three digits since the beginning of this month.
“Yesterday only 400 people visited Borra Caves whereas the average of 5,000 tourists per day was recorded last year,” Borra Caves manager C. Gowri Shankar said.
He said the number of visitors touches 10,000 per day during the peak winter season.
ASR District Tourism Officer G. Dasu said nights in the district continue to remain pleasant and occupancy in Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation-run hotels is currently around 50 per cent.
Tours and Travels Association of Andhra Pradesh president K. Vijay Mohan said the state tourism department should intervene during off-season periods such as summer and organise MICE tourism events.
Tour operators said food vendors and transport operators in both Visakhapatnam and ASR districts were also being affected due to the decline in tourist arrivals.
