Unseasonal summer rain cripples tourism across TN's western, southern regions
With most popular tourist destinations temporarily closed, the hospitality and travel sectors have reported heavy cancellations and dwindling occupancy rates.
In the Nilgiris, a top tourist destination during the summer months, heavy rain has continued for nearly a week.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for the district until Saturday, further dampening travel plans.
"It is still raining heavily. We have closed all the tourist destinations in Udhagamandalam. Though we opened the rose garden on Wednesday, only a handful of tourists turned up," said Durga Devi, tourism officer for the Nilgiris district.
Other districts, including Kanniyakumari, Thoothukudi, Dindigul, and Tenkasi, have also been hit by intense rainfall.
A senior official from the Tamil Nadu Tourism Department headquarters in Chennai said that bathing at the Kutralam waterfalls has been banned for three days due to flooding and slippery terrain.
"We have urged tourists to avoid visiting hilly areas until the weather improves," the official stated, adding that a full assessment of losses will be made once the rain subsides.
In Theni, authorities have also prohibited bathing at the Suruli waterfalls, while ferry services in the Kanniyakumari tourist zone remain suspended. Resumption of these services depends on improvements in weather and sea conditions.
Tour operators and hoteliers in affected areas are bearing the brunt of the weather.
M. Akbaruddin, a Chennai-based tour operator, reported that over 90 per cent of planned trips to destinations like Ooty, Coimbatore, Tenkasi, Kanniyakumari, and Madurai have been cancelled in the past two days.
"This applies to almost all local tour operators," he said, adding that "We're hopeful that conditions will normalise by the first week of June".
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Print
an hour ago
- The Print
Indigo launches direct flight service to Amsterdam from Mumbai
The Gurugram-based airline, which has over 400 aircraft in its fleet, in May this year said it was looking to introduce direct flights to London, Athens, and eight other international cities in the current financial year. Amsterdam, Jul 2 (PTI) Spreading its wings to Europe, Indian carrier IndiGo on Wednesday launched its flight services to Amsterdam from Mumbai, the airline's second long-haul overseas service to be rolled out in as many days. The new Mumbai-Amsterdam service will operate thrice weekly with IndiGo's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Amsterdam's Schiphol airport is one of the world's busiest airports and a key European hub. On Wednesday, the airline operated its maiden flight to Manchester from Mumbai, which it termed as a significant move that paves the way for it to become a global airline besides offering enhanced connectivity between India and key global markets. 'Spreading our wings further in Europe, we are delighted to launch our Mumbai-Amsterdam flights, connecting India to the world. This route will not only enhance connectivity for leisure, business, and student travellers, but also deepen the thriving partnership between India and the Netherlands, culturally, economically, and diplomatically,' said Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer at IndiGo. The Mumbai-Amsterdam route not only bolsters the airline's fast-growing international network but also underlines its commitment to making long-haul travel more accessible, efficient, and affordable for Indian travelers, IndiGo said in the statement on Wednesday. With this launch, customers flying to and from Amsterdam can seamlessly connect to the entire Europe, North America and Canada; and on IndiGo's domestic network of over 90 destinations within India, it said. IndiGo has tied up with Norwegian low-cost airline Norse Atlantic Airways for damp leasing of six wide-body B 787-9 aircraft for its international operations, primarily to the UK and Europe. These leased planes are to be delivered to the airline by 2026, with the first joining the fleet from March this year. The aircraft features a two-class cabin configuration comprising 56 IndiGoStretch (business class) seats and 282 economy seats. PTI RAM MR MR This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
IndiGo Launches Long-Haul International Ops With Manchester-Mumbai Flight
Mumbai: Domestic carrier IndiGo on Tuesday launched its long-haul international operations with its inaugural flight landing in Manchester from Mumbai. This new direct connection, to be operated with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft three times a week, will significantly enhance accessibility between India's financial capital and a major economic and cultural hub in Northern England, the airline said. This is a significant move that paves the way for IndiGo to become a global airline, while reinforcing its commitment to offering enhanced connectivity between India and key global markets, and also signifies the successful execution of IndiGo's internationalisation strategy, it said. The service is expected to benefit business travellers, tourists, students, and the Indian diaspora residing in the United Kingdom, fostering stronger economic, educational, and cultural ties, IndiGo said. "As we embark on our long-haul journey with the launch of direct flights between Mumbai and Manchester, this moment marks our transition from a successful regional carrier to one with growing global relevance," said Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer at IndiGo. The Gurugram-based airline has tied up with Norwegian low-cost airline Norse Atlantic Airways for damp leasing of six wide-body B 787-9 aircraft for its international operations, primarily to the UK and Europe. These leased planes are to be delivered to the airline by 2026, with the first joining the fleet from March this year. "This milestone is also a reflection of IndiGo's growing global ambition and its contribution to India's emergence as a global aviation hub. We are confident that this route will not only serve the large diaspora but also strengthen the economic and cultural ties between the two countries," added Elbers. The aircraft features a two-class cabin configuration comprising 56 IndiGoStretch (business class) seats and 282 economy seats. All seats feature seatback screens for in-flight entertainment - around 300 hours of content with movies and TV shows across a balanced mix of comedy, romance, drama and action, IndiGo said. With its fleet of over 400 aircraft, the airline operates around 2,200 daily flights, connecting more than 90 domestic and over 40 international destinations.
Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Indian Express
Dubai eyes air taxi launch in 2026 after successful test flight
Dubai could soon transform daily commuting with the introduction of air taxis. California-based Joby Aviation successfully conducted the first test flight of its fully-electric aerial taxi in the emirate this week. The demonstration marks a critical step in Dubai's plan to integrate electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft into the city's mobility network by 2026. Joby Aviation aims to help ease the burden on Dubai's increasingly congested roads by offering a faster, eco-friendly alternative for short-distance travel. 'We want to change the way people commute,' Reuters quoted Anthony Khoury, Joby's UAE General Manager, as saying. According to the company, a trip from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Palm Jumeirah using its aerial taxi will take just 12 minutes—compared to approximately 45 minutes by car. The future of cleaner, quieter urban travel just landed in Dubai. Today marks a significant milestone on our path to commercialization: we successfully completed a series of piloted, full-transition, electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing flights in — Joby Aviation (@jobyaviation) June 30, 2025 Earlier in 2024, Joby signed an exclusive six-year contract with Dubai's Roads and Transit Authority (RTA) to operate aerial taxis in the emirate. The commercial rollout, expected in 2026, will initially connect four vertiport hubs—Dubai International Airport, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Downtown, and Dubai Marina. While affordability remains a long-term goal, Khoury acknowledged that the initial pricing structure may cater more to high-income travelers. 'As with any novel technology, early days might be a bit more premium,' he said. The test flight was held on Monday at a remote desert site southeast of Dubai's downtown. Designed to simulate a typical passenger route, the electric aircraft executed a vertical takeoff, flew several miles, and returned with a vertical landing. The event was attended by senior government officials, transport executives, and Joby Aviation representatives. The Joby Aerial Taxi is capable of flying up to 160 km at speeds reaching 320 kmph. With zero operating emissions, the fully-electric eVTOL is designed for minimal noise, making it ideal for urban use. 'It will be flying in the city, next to residential areas, and hopefully people will barely notice it,' Khoury noted. Despite the progress, the eVTOL industry still faces challenges such as regulatory approvals and infrastructure development, particularly the construction of vertiports. In April, Morgan Stanley downgraded Joby's stock price target from $10 to $7 due to execution risks and industry-wide concerns like supply-chain disruptions and tariffs. Joby shares currently trade at $10.55, according to Reuters.
