MADIKERI: In what would be music to the ears of Kodagu’s residents, the tourism department said tourist arrivals have started despite the ban and the sector was likely to bounce back earlier than expected. Around 31 villages of the district have been battered by rain and landslides but enquiries from tourists have resumed already.C Jagannath, deputy director of the tourism department, told TOI: “We have extended the ban on tourist stay, keeping in mind safety. Most village roads have been repaired. In Madikeri , tourists may face some difficulty due to roads collapsing. But otherwise, everything is normal. We are confident that once the ban order is lifted, tourism may return to normal,” he said.The ban on visit of tourists to Kodagu district has been extended till September 9, from the earlier date of August 31.Sagar Apparanda, president of the Association for Rural Tourism, said it may take one or two months for full resumption of tourist activities. “The decision to ban tourist stay in the district is boomeranging. The district administration should have imposed the ban only in Madikeri. South Kodagu was not affected by floods. But due to the ban, the sector will need more time to revive,” he said. “The district economy, which largely depends on tourism, has collapsed. Workers have no jobs. All these factors are inter-linked.”With the Madikeri Dasara organising committee deciding to keep the annual festival low-profile, many tour operators feel that one option left for them is to org anise theme-based tours. “We need to rebrand Kodagu tourism.Theme-based tourist activities, like heritage tourism and eco-tourism may help revive the sector. We are working on this now,” said Dinesh Chowta, a tour operator from Madikeri.“The government needs to take up promotion work or it may take months together for revival. The state government must spread the word that tourist spots of the district are intact. If this sector is not revived, it may add to the woes of the floodaffected as many displaced families are dependent on tourism for their livelihood,” Chowta said.

Stay updated with all the Latest Mysore headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.