Mysuru: Since Wednesday, Mysuru has been witnessing a pronounced surge in tourist arrivals as the Christmas and year-end holiday season reaches its peak. The influx has been driven by a combination of festive attractions such as the Mysuru Winter Festival, flower shows, and cultural programmes organised at the iconic Mysuru Palace, which continue to draw visitors from across Karnataka and neighbouring states.The extended weekend has further added to the rush, while the ban on safaris in Bandipur and Nagarahole tiger reserves has prompted many tourists to stay back in Mysuru instead of travelling onward.Since Dec 24, hotels, lodges, and guesthouses across the city have been reporting near-full to full occupancy, reflecting the sharp rise in demand during the festive period. On Christmas Day, major heritage and leisure destinations like Mysuru Palace and Mysuru zoo witnessed heavy footfall, resulting in sustained crowding at popular tourist spots.Tourism stakeholders expect this trend to continue through the weekend. The surge in visitors has also led to heavy traffic congestion on city roads and national highways, particularly near prominent tourist attractions and key entry points into Mysuru. Both residents and visitors are experiencing longer travel times as the city adjusts to the seasonal rush.Tourism officials said the tourist inflow is expected to continue till Dec 31, as many visitors are combining Christmas celebrations with New Year vacations. Those in the city facing crowding, traffic delays, or accommodation constraints have been advised that the situation is largely due to the peak holiday inflow and ongoing cultural festivities that make Mysuru a preferred year-end destination. The safari ban has further contributed to higher tourist retention within the city.C. Narayan Gowda, president of the Hotel Owners’ Association, said, “Most hotels across the city recorded 100% occupancy on Thursday, while occupancy was around 90% on Wednesday. The trend is expected to remain almost the same till the weekend.”Echoing similar views, BS Prashanth, a leader of the Mysuru Travel Agents Association, said, “Tourists can be seen everywhere in Mysuru. Due to the extended weekend, there has been a surge in visitors. With the safari ban in place, many tourists decided to stay within the city, resulting in higher numbers. The situation is likely to remain similar till Dec 31. Compared to last year, tourist inflow is higher this year.”
