The nippy weather, accompanied by pleasant, intermittent showers in the hill stations, signifying the commencement of the second season, has made the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) gear up to receive more visitors. It anticipates about 10–15 per cent increase in footfalls over the previous year’s numbers.
“The season has commenced and it will peak in the coming weeks. Usually, foreigners and north Indians visit exotic destinations in TN during this part of the season which lasts till January,” a senior official at TTDC told DC.
Besides foreigners, hill resorts attract honeymooners. “With the commencement of quarterly holidays for educational institutions, we expect more families to descend upon the hill stations and other parts. Already, small groups of foreign nationals are daily visiting Chennai, Kancheepuram, Mamallapuram and other places in the state,” he said.
Of the tours, the daily Tirupati trip continues to run full and, surprisingly, despite the sea of humanity thronging the Lord Venkateswara temple to witness the annual Brahmotsavam, those availing of the one-day trip from here were able to have darshan of the Lord and return the same night.
“Since TTD has stopped issuing special darshan tickets owing to the Brahmotsavam, we had to purchase the Rs 300 darshan ticket for our tourists. But they were able to get the Lord’s darshan within two hours,” a TTDC official said.