Hotel bookings dip in Munnar: What's affecting the hill station's tourism?

It's been weeks since the summer holidays began, but bookings are experiencing a dip in the month in Munnar. The hill station is even more beautiful now with Jacaranda blooms and the opening of the Eravikulam National Park, but tourists seem to be staying away. According to hoteliers and other tourism stakeholders, Munnar tourism is adversely affected by the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Campaigning by various candidates has reportedly affected the tourism industry in Munnar adversely.

Usually, tourists would start booking rooms for April and May in the first week of April itself. However, now, rooms are being booked only on Saturdays, Sundays or on other holidays. Vinod Vattekad, the executive member of Kerala Travel Mart said that compared to previous years, there has been a steep drop of around 52% in room booking in April this year. He added that tourists from neighbouring states too aren’t coming as the elections have been announced.

The number of visitors has dropped at major tourist spots like Rajamala, Mattupetti, Hydel Park and Botanical Garden which are usually crowded, especially during the holiday season. The data show that only 1700 and 2306 tourists visited Rajamala on last Saturday and Sunday respectively. Meanwhile, 1450 and 2000 visitors came to Mattupetti; 1400 and 1600 tourists visited Hydel Park and 1370 and 1718 visitors entered the Botanical Garden on these days.

Best spots to visit in Munnar in April
According to the Munnar Tourist Guide's Association, the best places to visit in April are in the Mattupetty direction. Mattupetty Dam and boating area, Eco Point, Kundala Lake, Eravikulam National Park, Lakkam and Viripara waterfalls, Top Hill View Point, Pothamedu Viewpoint and Botanical Gardens are the popular tourist destinations of this season, said the association.