Mumbai: Coronavirus started spreading in the country just around the summer vacation period and everything was shut. So the summer vacation went by without tourists. Now that Diwali has begun, many tourist destinations in the state continue to witness less footfall. Many tourists come to Mumbai, Ratnagiri, Raigad, Sindhudurg to enjoy their holidays. However, this year all these tourist destinations are quiet because of Coronavirus. Here take a look at the special report by ETV Bharat on how Coronavirus has hit the tourism industry in different states.
On the eve of Diwali, Mumbai has the highest number of coronavirus patients in the country, so the tourism sector here has been hit hard. Overall, Mumbai has a good number of tourists during festivals like Diwali. Be it the famous Worli Sea Face or Juhu Chowpatty, it is ready to welcome Mumbai tourists. However, how Coronavirus affected the festivals this year, as well as the tourism industry after the Unlock, ETV Bharat representatives tried to review this. For this, the famous Juhu Chowpatty in Mumbai was chosen.
Corona's effect on Juhu Beach
The same story of tourists. Fayez owns a fast food shop on Juhu Beach. In these two months, the income is eighty to ninety thousand rupees. There are 4 people in the family. The family has been in this business for the last 34 years. But, despite the unlock, the corona effect is that all the general public is still distancing themselves from being out. Though Mumbai is unlocked, but the business is still locked. The cost of running the shop is unaffordable. So running a shop is a loss, says Fayyaz.
Adverse effects of corona: Number of tourists in Ratnagiri dropped
Ratnagiri - Corona has also affected the tourism of Konkan. Each year, the number of tourists visiting Konkan is in lakhs but this year, there has been barely anything. As a result, businesses that depend on tourism are also affected. In particular, a large number of tourists visit Konkan every year on Diwali. Therefore, tourists enjoy the Diwali holidays by witnessing the endless sea. Hotels and lodges are generally full during Diwali. This year, however, is a different picture. Businesses here are waiting for tourists. This is because at present even 10 per cent of local businesses are reporting no bookings.
Konkan tourism
Konkan has a coastline of 720 km. That is why the endless beaches of Konkan are the attractions of many tourists. Therefore, whether it is New Year's Eve, summer holidays or Diwali holiday, the most popular tourist destination is the Konkan coast. Millions of tourists flock to Anjarle, Kelshi, Karde, Ladghar, Guhagar, Murud, Ganpatipule, Ratnagiri, Tarkarli, Malvan. Therefore, the shores of the Konkan have always been crowded with tourists.
A long wait
This year, however, thousands of tourists are booking in advance every year to spend the waiting Diwali holiday in Konkan. So every year hotels, lodges, MTDC resorts are all 100 per cent full, many don't even get a room. This year, however, Corona has had a major impact on tourism here. Corona has caused some restrictions. The temples are closed. Therefore, there is a picture of tourists turning their backs on Konkan. Corona also missed this year's summer vacation season. After that, the situation is likely to remain the same on Diwali. According to professionals, bookings for hotels that are full every year on Diwali are less than 10 per cent this year.
No booking at Ganpatipule's Bhakt Niwas
The President of Ganpatipule Devasthan, Dr Vivek Bhide said that the Bhakt Niwas of Ganpati Devasthan, which was closed due to Corona, started from November 1. Every year on Diwali, the Bhaktanivas is 100 per cent full. But not even five rooms were vacated on Saturday-Sunday last week. He is hopeful that tourists will come after Lakshmi Puja. Expressed by Bhide.
MTDC's resort also empty
MTDC's tourist accommodation at Ganpatipule was full during the Diwali holidays last year. The rooms in the manager's quota were also filled. This year, however, the number of tourists visiting MTDC tourist accommodation has been very low due to the Coronavirus outbreak said Deepak Mane, Regional Tourism Officer, MTDC's Konkan Division. Therefore, overall, this year's Corona strike seems to have hit Diwali tourism in Konkan.
Only 20 to 30 per cent booking at the lodge, resorts in Raigad
The government has relaxed the lockout and opened up tourism. Therefore, a trainload of tourists has started in the district. The festival of Diwali is a source of income for lodges, resorts and hoteliers. On Diwali, lodging professionals get bookings a month in advance. However, due to the Corona epidemic, businesses are waiting for tourists. As a result, lodging, hotel and resort professionals have received only 20 to 30 per cent bookings this time.
Raigad district has Alibag, Kihim, Mandwa, Versoli, Akshi, Nagaon, Revdanda, Kashid, Murud, Diveagar, Harihareshwar, Shrivardhan beaches. Tourists come here in large numbers to have fun. Tourists are returning after a one-day picnic. As a result, the number of tourists coming to stay has decreased. Resort owners are concerned as there are no tourists. Businesses, hoping that a large number of tourists will come during the Diwali holidays, have sanitized lodges and resort rooms on the backdrop of Coronavirus. All the Coronavirus guidelines are being followed. Therefore, the question of whether the cost incurred by sanitizing will go away or not has fallen on the business people.
Historic buildings open to tourists
Diwali has also hit small businesses involved in the tourism business, which is open to tourists. Also, although the government has started opening seaside tourism for historical forts, forts and structures, tourists were not allowed to visit historical forts, forts and structures. Therefore, trekking, social organizations had demanded to open the fort, fort for tourism. Accordingly, Raigad District Collector has opened the forts, forts and historical structures to the tourists following the rules of Corona. Therefore, the tourism business of this place will now get a boost.
Corona hits tourism business in Sindhudurg
The Malvan fort in the district is home to tourists. About 1 lakh tourists visit this fort every year during Diwali holidays. This year the number is not even 10 per cent. However, tourists are being released on this fort with adequate care at present. Boat service is run through Sindhudurg Fort Passenger Transport Welfare Association to reach Malvan Fort. According to the workers working in the booking centre of this boat service, the number of tourists has decreased this year as compared to last year. Moreover, the government has permitted to start this service by imposing terms and conditions. Earlier we were carrying 25 tourists in one boat. Now 11 to 12 tourists have to be taken. Boat operators cannot afford it, said a person from this business.
Room bookings down to 10 per cent
There are three thousand rooms, however, only 10 per cent of them are booked. This is where tourists are taken care of. However, the number of tourists is low. A large number of these people had taken us to the fort last time. However, now the families are gone. Tourist Mujefa Bora said that tourists are being taken care of in this place. Also, our May season is over and now it was expected that tourists would come. However, only 10 per cent of tourists have come. So we have a booking. But that’s for the next few days. However, the Diwali season has gone by.
Malvan has 3,000 rooms that can accommodate about 10,000 tourists. However, only 10 per cent of them have been booked, said Nitin Walke, Chairman of the Trade Association and Former President Of The Federation. Meanwhile, Corona's time has been very difficult for the tourism business in Sindhudurg. Businesses were expected to be relieved on Diwali. However, that too did not happen. So tourism professionals are worried.
Gujarat's Beach tourism industry received mixed response during Diwali holidays
Ahmedabad: Gujaratis are avid travellers and they travel to various tourist destinations during the Diwali holidays. However, the beach tourism industry of the state has received a mixed response this year due to COVID-19. Some destinations were full, while elsewhere hotels kept waiting for tourists.
Special facilities for tourists at Tithal
Tithal Sea Beach near Valsad city has been a tourist attraction for Mumbai and Surat tourists for years. However, this year saw the number of tourists decline amid the Covid-19 pandemic. However, on the festival of Diwali many families came to the beach to enjoy and relax. A variety of facilities have come up for tourists. Several rides have been put up for children. Food stalls have come up, so tourists from outside can enjoy the beach and local foods. Public toilets have also been built nearby.
Hotels and resorts houseful in Diu
Even after unlocking was announced tourists did not come to Diu due to many strict rules. With the Diwali holidays approaching, some rules for tourists have been relaxed and it saw an influx of tourists in Diu. Known as Mini Goa the beach of the Diu is full of tourists during the Diwali festivals. For all five days of Diwali festival, Diu's hotels and resorts were booked. There are about 1600 rooms in Diu in 40 different hotels and resorts, all of which were packed with tourists. The Diwali season and vacation lasts about 15 days, but this year there are hardly any visitors from other states, so the tourist season will last only about a week. Hotel owners are hoping to extend the season. The month of December also sees the arrival of travellers, so hotel owners hope the December season will go well.
Tourist at Shivrajpur beach in Dwarka
There is a huge drop in the number of pilgrims coming to Dwarka during Diwali vacation this year, but many tourists have visited nearby Shivrajpur Beach. This beach has recently got the title of Blue Flag, which is recognition of its serene and clean beach, where one gets peace of mind. Separate toilet blocks for men and women, water treatment plant and facilities to safely swim in the sea have been set up at Shivrajpur beach. A committee has been formed at Shivrajpur beach under the direct supervision of the district collector and adequate attention is being paid to the convenience of the people as well as cleanliness. Trained lifeguards have also been put on duty for safe swimming in the sea. The Gujarat Ecology Commission has made beautiful arrangements on this beach using solar lights. Travellers who travel abroad at a cost of lakhs of rupees come to this Shivrajpur beach near Dwarka to enjoy the same clean and enjoyable sea beach.
Somnath is still waiting for tourists
Six months after the lockdown, the tourism industry is still struggling with unemployment. Even at Somnath, a Jyotirlinga temple, traders are suffering as tourism has gone down. Vijaysinh Chavda, General Manager of Somnath Trust, said to ETV Bharat that the number of pilgrims have gone down substantially. In the normal days before Covid-19, 8,000 to 10,000 people used to visit Somnath temple daily and on Sundays and holidays, the number would be around 25,000. However, these days only about 3,000 people visit Somnath daily and on Sundays and holidays only 8,000 to 10,000 thousand people come to visit. Darshan in the temple has been arranged keeping in mind all the guidelines of Covid-19. However, the numbers of pilgrims are still low.
Beaches in Kerala remain deserted despite relaxing COVID regulations
Thiruvananthapuram: The COVID regulations have been relaxed and the beaches in the State have opened up. However, Kovalam Beach, in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, which has always been a paradise for the foreigners and the tourists from other parts of India, remains almost deserted.
The visitors at Kovalam are now a few residents from Thiruvananthapuram city and those from the bordering State of Tamil Nadu. No foreign tourists have been visiting Kovalam even after the COVID strictures have been relaxed.
Except for a few foreigners, who have been stranded in Kerala during the COVID lockdown, walking along the beaches in the mornings, Kovalam beach which has always been crowded seems empty. A few locals also come by to spend their evenings in the empty beach here.
People in small groups from the nearby border towns in Tamil Nadu visit the beach occasionally. With no crowd and tourists here, even these scanty visitors who turn up here seem to lack the spirit.
Kovalam beach, like many other places in the State, is unlikely to be crowded by tourists and travellers until all the COVID regulations are completely relaxed. The foreign tourists are also unlikely to visit until the pandemic scare settles completely. The vendors and small businesses at Kovalam are also sparse with the lack of enough visitors at the beach.
Kannur: Muzhappilangad Beach in Kannur District of Kerala is the only beach in the State which has the approval for vehicles to drive in through the sandy beaches. It is also the longest drive-in beach in Asia.
At Muzhappilangad, one can drive through the beach for a long stretch of 5 kilometres in a semi-circle pattern. In the plain sandy beach with a firm topping, the top layer of the sand becomes harder as it gets wet during high tides.
Right from bicycles, motor-bikes and cars, any vehicle can be ridden or drove on this hard surface at this beach. As the waters here are relatively shallow, people can get into the waters safely and kids can have fun. With COVID lockdown regulations and the beach remaining closed for public for many months together, the beauty and charm of Muzhappilangad seem to have faded off.
The vast sandy beach is now filled with wooden logs scattered here and there. The benches and small shelters on the beach are all damaged. The wild growth along the sides have started growing into the beach.
Though the regulations and curfew at the tourist centres in the district have all been revoked, the beaches here remain dirty and unclean. People can visit the beach here now. However, the vehicles are not allowed to drive through the beach yet.
Das Kalarikkal, an album producer, said the enticing beauty and cleanliness of Muzhppilangad Beach, which is the favourite shooting spot for cinema and album makers, must be revived.
Meanwhile, the State Tourism Department has earmarked Rs 226 crore for a massive makeover project, which includes works at Muzhappilangad, and Dharmadam island nearby. Tourism Deputy Director P Muralidharan said a master plan is being readied for works here at an estimated cost of Rs 226 Crores.
The development works are to begin after dividing the area into different zones. There will be three zones in the project, namely - Adventure zone, Driving zone and Kids zone. As per schedule, the works are expected to be completed in two years. On completion of the project, the beach will rise up to the international standards.
A beach fest is organised during the months of April and May when the beach witnesses the most number of visitors. Adventure rides in the sea along the beach, amusement rides, fun activities for children and exhibitions are usually conducted here as part of the Beach Festival.
Dharmadam Island is hardly 200 metres from Muzhappilangad. Known as the ‘Pacha Thuruthu’ (literally translates into the green island), Dharamadam adds a golden feather to the tourism potential of Muzhappilangad. One can reach here by road via Edakkad. The beach at Muzhappilangad is about 15 kilometres away from Kannur and just 8 kilometres from Thalassery.
Tourism suffers in Karnataka due to Coronavirus Pandemic
Bengaluru: The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the lives of people irrespective of their professions, economic, social, or religious status. Be it a government professional, an engineer, a businessman - the livelihood of each and every individual has been affected to a certain extent. Similarly, merchants who run their shops on or near beaches are facing a crisis due to the lack of tourists.
Since the end of the lockdown, the government has opened up beaches, yet people are afraid to go to beaches for the fear of contracting Covid. Due to the absence of tourists, shopkeepers and merchants on/near beaches are facing a tough time.
Many people Including foreign tourists are attracted to the beautiful beaches of Uttara Kannada. Gokarna beach, Kudle, Om beach, and Murudeshwar's beaches, which are often referred to as foreigners' paradise, now bear a deserted look. The hotels and shops in the vicinity of these beaches are starting to shut down due to the lack of customers.
In Tamil Nadu, HC raises the question as to why beaches are not opened
Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisamy, who recently visited Kanyakumari district, lifted the ban on tourists visiting this district. Those who came to Kanyakumari spent their time sitting at the Triveni Sangam and the beach. Then they went to the shops there and bought the goods. A few days ago, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, announced that ferry service to the Vivekananda Memorial Hall and the Thiruvalluvar statue in the middle of the sea would begin soon. However, tourists from Kanyakumari were disappointed as the ferry service has not yet started. Subhash, who trades in the coastal area, said, 'For more than six months now, the public has not been allowed on the beach due to the corona curfew. This has severely affected the traders who have been relying on tourists for their livelihood. Although the ban on Kanyakumari beach has been lifted, the ban on access to the Vivekananda rock and Thiruvalluvar statue continues. Therefore, this ban should be lifted and ferry service should start immediately. This will not only increase the number of tourists but also make the business thrive. Praveena, who was travelling with her family to Kanyakumari beach, said, 'We have come to Kanyakumari beach with our family in our spare time for the Deepavali holiday.
In Chennai, people are not permitted to go to the beach yet on the pre-text of crowd gathering which will impact social distancing and spread of the virus. It is to be noted that permission was granted to travel and visit theatres and temple which also attract crowds. However, yet, people are not allowed to go to the beach and small traders who depend on their income as beach vendors suffer the most. The Honourable High Court has raised a question as to the problem with the opening of the beach while Tasmak shops are being opened. Everyone eagerly expect the government to take immediate action on opening the beaches so that the traders and workers will benefit. The Court has even gone to an extent that if the Government has not come up with a positive decision, it will decide on and declare the verdict on opening the beaches in Tamil Nadu.
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