Tirupati: Tourism hotels opened, but no package tours

Tirupati: With the easing of lockdown restrictions, tourism department has started its services partially. Entire activities of the department came to a halt for almost 80 days resulting huge loss for the department, particularly Tirupati division which is the major revenue contributor to the exchequer.

It incurred an estimated Rs 10-Rs 11 crore loss so far which will make a heavy dent on this year's earnings.

Though it may be extremely difficult for AP Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) to bridge the gap with no sign of improvement in the Covid situation in sight, it started various operations wherever they are permissible.

APTDC Tirupati division gets its lion's share of revenue through various darshan packages being offered from various destinations in AP, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

These can't be started in the near future as temples providing darshan to very limited number of devotees and travel restrictions are still in place in other states.

With this, around 19 packages have been stopped resulting in a huge loss to the corporation. However, it has decided to make use of the permission to open several hotels and restaurants for now.

It has started operations at Horsley Hills where rooms will be rented out to the visitors and Haritha restaurant also started functioning from Monday.

However, tourists will not be allowed to visit swimming pool and adventure games in view of restrictions. APTDC has prepared to continue all preventive steps and disinfecting the entire area frequently.

APTDC divi sional manager R V Suresh Kumar Reddy told The Hans India that the rooms and restaurants at Horsley Hills, Srikalahasti, Puligundu, Kailasanathakona, Puttur and Palamaner are opened for visitors taking all preventive measures.

Seating adjustments have been made already in tourism vehicles to maintain physical distancing and packages will resume whenever they get permissions.