UDHAGAMANDALAM: A visit to the Queen of Hills has become so expensive that it is becoming unaffordable to tourists with average paying capacity.
As there are no particular guidelines in fixing the room rent, many private hotels and lodges have hiked the cost as per their will.
Hotel owners in Ooty are trying to make the most out of the peak tourist season forcing the visitors to spend some extra bucks for a comfortable stay.
The cost of food and accommodation has gone up many fold in the last five years. Five years ago, the minimum rent was between Rs300 and Rs 500. Now though the minimum rent is more than Rs 1,000, rooms are guaranteed only to those who are ready to pay Rs 2,000.
During this season, hotel rooms are not available for a rent below Rs 1,200 per day.
Even the hotels run by Tamil Nadu Tourism Department (TTDC) are costly. An ordinary room at Hotel Tamil Nadu operated by TTDC costs Rs 1,350 while a deluxe room is charged Rs 1,600. The rent for a cottage has gone up to Rs 2,300. Hotel Tamil Nadu has 76 rooms . Despite the increase in the rent, high demand prevails for the rooms. During off season, the rent comes down by less than 50 per cent.
The demand for the rooms during the peak tourist season plays a vital role in the increase of rent in hotels.
During season which ends by May, even big houses are being converted into lodges to make a quick buck. The woes of tourists who come to have a pleasure time in the hill station do not end here. Even after paying hefty rental, the hoteliers and lodge owners do not allow more than three persons in a double room (no single room is available in Ooty). If one more member is to be accommodated, an additional bed should be rented at Rs 500, which often creates difficulty for families.
