Karnataka Tourism Crisis: Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru Stakeholders Demand Rule Relaxation
Local business owners and guides in Karnataka's primary hill stations report severe financial distress due to rigid tourism curbs and vehicle quotas. Stakeholders are calling for a scientific management strategy to replace total closures and restrictive online booking systems.
Key takeaways
- Homestay owners in Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru report massive revenue losses due to site closures and vehicle entry limits.
- A 600-car daily limit at Mullayanagiri is allegedly being exploited by cab drivers who book all available online slots.
- Tourism professionals, including guides, are being forced into manual labor in coffee estates due to the drop in visitor numbers.
- Industry leaders are calling for a scientific, balanced approach to safety that permits sustainable tourism flow.
Restrictive Policies Threaten Hill Station Economies
Stringent regulations and prolonged site closures are destabilizing the tourism-dependent economies of Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru. Stakeholders report that key attractions, including Raja’s Seat, Mandalpatti, Dubare, and Thadiyandamol peak, have either remained inaccessible or operated under heavy constraints, discouraging visitors and forcing local workers to abandon the sector. Sagar Ganapathy, Treasurer of the Coorg Hotels and Resorts’ Association, noted that the current administrative stance overlooks the financial stability of hotels, taxi operators, and trekking guides.
The Impact on Local Livelihoods
The economic fallout has triggered a shift in the local labor market. Kaverappa, a nature guide in Kodagu, stated that dwindling tourist numbers have forced many professionals to seek manual labor in coffee estates to survive. The demand from these communities is not for a total removal of safety protocols, but for a balanced, evidence-based approach that maintains public safety without paralyzing the local hospitality ecosystem.
Chikkamagaluru’s Digital Bottlenecks
In Chikkamagaluru, a mandatory online vehicle registration portal has become a point of contention. While sites like Mullayanagiri, Baba Budangiri, and Hebbe Falls remain popular, a daily cap of 600 private vehicles has drastically reduced weekend footfall. H. L. Girish, a member of the Chikkamagaluru Homestay Association and owner of Saaranga Homestay, highlighted a significant drop in weekend visitors from 10,000 to roughly 2,500.
- Exploitation of Booking Systems: Travelers report that private cab drivers frequently monopolize the 600 available daily slots on the official portal, forcing independent tourists to hire local transport at extra cost.
- Infrastructure Constraints: Tourism officials defend the restrictions by citing the narrow, single-lane roads in the ghat sections, where high vehicle volumes create dangerous traffic conditions.
- Legislative Appeal: The homestay association has formally raised these concerns with local MLAs, seeking an intervention from Tourism Minister K.J. George to rectify portal mismanagement.
A senior Tourism Department official acknowledged the issues regarding slot hoarding by commercial drivers and stated that the department would work with homestay owners to resolve these discrepancies. However, the official maintained that vehicle limits remain necessary due to the geographical limitations of the terrain.
Source: The Hindu — National
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