Mysuru: The recent decision to increase the entry fee for foreign visitors to Mysuru Palace from Rs 100 to Rs 1000 has raised alarm among tourism stakeholders, who warn that such a steep hike could further decrease the already dwindling number of international tourists. Over the past decade, the influx of foreign visitors to the palace has significantly declined, prompting hotel owners and travel agents to voice their concerns.
C. Narayangowda, President of the Mysuru Hotel Owners’ Association, criticized the Mysuru Palace Board for implementing the fee increase without consulting tourism professionals. “The increase is unjustified, especially when we are already witnessing a decline in foreign tourists. A doubling of the fee would have been more reasonable,” he stated. B.S. Prashanth, President of the Travel Agents Association, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that travel agents had based their quotes on the previous fee structure. The new fee could impose a substantial financial burden on group bookings.
M. Ravi, Vice President of the Karnataka Tourism Federation, highlighted the need for improved amenities for tourists, including better parking and sanitation facilities, before imposing such high charges. He noted that the increased costs of travel, combined with rising hotel and airfare prices, could drive tourists to more affordable destinations like Malaysia and Thailand.
Meanwhile, G. Lakshmikanth Reddy, Mysuru Deputy Commissioner and Executive of the Mysore Palace Board, defended the increase, suggesting that it is still low compared to fees in European countries, where foreigners often pay significantly more. He argued that the increase would not deter foreigners, as the charges remain minimal in relation to their currencies.
Despite these assurances, local residents like J. Nagesh fear that the price hike may deter potential visitors at a time when foreign tourism is slowly recovering post-pandemic. Historical data shows a dramatic drop in foreign visitors to the palace, from over 80,000 in 2012-13 to just over 11,000 so far this year.
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