ASR District Expecting Massive Footfalls During Dasara Holidays

After the deluge, it is time for eco-tourism, Dhimsa, coffee, bamboo chicken, and campfire in the Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district with people pouring into the tourist region from the next week onwards in view of the Dasara holidays.

Tourism officials say hotels will be fully booked, if the daily enquiries are any indication.

“Last Sunday, over 5,000 tourists from different places visited Vanjangi and Tadimada sunrise points. The footfalls are likely to cross 10,000 daily from next week when tourists start visiting the agency for Dasara,” said District Tourism Officer (DTO) Pattasi Chalapathi Rao. Similar crowds are also expected at Borra Caves.

Talking to this correspondent on Tuesday, Chalapathi Rao said tourists from West Bengal, Odisha, Hyderabad, and other places occupy all the 3,500 rooms in both private and APTDC hotels during the Dasara holidays.

For the first time, there are inquiries from Uttar Pradesh and some other north Indian states, he revealed.

The DTO pointed out that homestays have also come up in parts of the agency, where tourists can stay and enjoy the traditional food, experience the villages, and become part of the indigenous agricultural practices. In addition, there are private agencies offering tents on hire, which will start dotting different places in the picturesque district.

He said a large number of tourists are expected to visit Lambasingi, the Andhra Ooty, where people experience cold temperatures. APTDC has 10 cottages and a restaurant to cater to all types of tourists.

Chalapathi Rao said the department is launching “Friendly Tourism,” a new concept to make the tourists comfortable.

“We held a meeting with hotel owners, transport operators, and travel agents recently. Post discussions, we have told them to greet the tourists and keep offering help, so that they do not feel cheated. We have told many private hotel owners not to charge exorbitant rates during the peak season,” the tourism officer emphasised