Munnar benefits as e-pass mandate impacts footfall in Ooty, Kodaikanal

Following a mandate issued by the Madras High Court last week, travellers bound for Ooty and Kodaikanal are now required to possess an e-pass, leading to a notable decline in tourist numbers since its implementation. The directive, enforced last Tuesday, has markedly reduced the influx of visitors to these picturesque hill stations. Despite government assurances of issuing e-passes to all applicants, many travellers have opted to cancel their plans.

Previously, Ooty welcomed an average of 20,000 tourists daily during May, a figure now halved due to the e-pass requirement. This downturn has triggered a significant crisis for individuals reliant on the tourism sector in Ooty.

Authorities in Mettupalayam and Gudalur are scrutinising e-pass possession, while surveillance has intensified at key checkpoints including Kallar, Nadukani, Devala, Kakkanallah, and Pattavayal in the Nilgiris district, with around 100 officers deployed for this purpose.

Hotel and cottage owners in the region are grappling with dwindling occupancy rates, with Kodaikanal's hotels and resorts operating at half capacity. Prior to the e-pass mandate, roadblocks were common in Kodaikanal, a situation that has notably shifted since the introduction of the e-pass on May 7, prompting hotel owners to stage protest programs.

Tourism boom in Kerala: Munnar records highest footfall in 18 Years

While tourist destinations in Tamil Nadu experience a downturn, Kerala's tourism sector is witnessing a surge, with Munnar emerging as the biggest beneficiary of the neighbouring state's crisis. Munnar, known for its weather akin to Ooty and Kodaikanal, saw a significant increase in tourist footfall over the weekend, marking the highest influx of visitors since the Neelakurinji season of 2006. Despite a decline in tourist numbers during April's heat, Munnar experienced heavy traffic last weekend. Long queues of vehicles now line the roads leading to Munnar, with tourists enduring hours of delays and shortages last Sunday and Saturday.

Hotel accommodations in Munnar city and its environs are reportedly fully booked. The rise in tourists from Tamil Nadu appears to be driving the surge in visitor numbers. A sustained influx of tourists is anticipated as temperatures cool with the onset of the monsoon season. Areas such as Kanthalloor, Suryanelli, and Kumali are also witnessing increased footfall. Destinations like Wayanad, Alappuzha, Fort Kochi, and other parts of Idukki are also reporting a rise in non-state tourists due to the e-pass crisis in Tamil Nadu.