KOCHI: Nearly 1.20 lakh tourists visited the Eravikulam National Park near Munnar between September 1 and October 28 to witness the once-in-12-year phenomenon of neelakurinji (strobilanthes kunthiana) blooming. As the season comes to an end, tourists are moving to Kolukkumalai where neelakurinji blooming will last for another two more weeks.
According to data provided by the Eravikulam National Park, 119,757 tourists arrived to witness neelakurinji blooming between September 1 to October 28. The number is very lower than expected as flood and landslide took a toll. The Munnar route was closed for several weeks and even foreign countries had issued an alert against travelling to Kerala.
“The flood surely adversely effected the tourist arrivals during the neelakurinji season. From September 15, tourists started arriving in Munnar. In October, several tourists from different parts of the country arrived. In total, around 2 lakh tourists have reached Munnar and adjourning areas for witnessing the blooming of neelakurinji. We had expected around 8 lakh tourists,” said KS Shine, Joint Director, Kerala Tourism. Only 827 foreign tourists came to the Eravikulam national park as part of the neelakurinji season.
While as many as 666 foreign tourists booked tickets from the ticket counter, 161 booked online. “There was substantial cancellation of online tickets following the flood. This included those tourists from abroad as well,” KS Shine said. Even though the online booking was arranged, very few people availed the facility. As per the data by the forest department, only 34,603 tourists availed the online booking facility. While 12,502 booked online in September, this month till Sunday 22,101 have booked online.
As far as revenue collection by Eravikulam National Park is concerned, the total collection was Rs 1,43,86,920 between September 1 and October 28. In September, the total collection made at Eravikulam National Park was Rs 66,86,205 and in October it was Rs 77,00,715.
“Considering the importance of tourism and the neelakurinji season, the government repaired the road to Munnar on a war-footing. The damaged bridges were repaired in a short span of time. After the flood, we expected around 2-3 lakh tourists. “Neelakurinji may last for one or two week and campaigns have been initiated to lure maximum number of tourists in the coming days,” said a Kerala Tourism officer in Thiruvananthapuram.