Mahabaleshwar falls off tourist map

At the general body meeting on December 3, the 15 members of the municipal council felt it was high time Mahabaleshwar be made more budget-oriented. The rationalisation of hotel room rates, taxi service rates and guide rates is going to be implemented soon. Printed tariff cards will be stuck on taxis wherein fixed charges will be levied for tours to specified points — the main sight-seeing places of Mahabaleshwar.

Till three years ago, tourists had to meekly submit to the whims of local businessmen in this hill station, whose entireeconomy revolves around tourism.

Says Parte, “This year, we did have the patronage of tourists from Mumbai, but there has been a 40 per cent dip in tourists from Gujarat. Why should people come from so far, when they are charged exorbitant hotel room rates to the tune of Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 for the most ordinary room? Hence, strict rules and regulations will immediately be enforced.”

He told The Indian Express, “We will provide uniforms to guides so that they look more presentable. Taxi drivers have been charging exorbitant fees while showing tourists around Mahabaleshwar, particularly during the peak season when they are in demand. Now, stickers with the tariff card for specified sight-seeing will be mandatorily stuck on their vehicles.”

The peak season has dropped to a mere 45 to 50 days, when five to seven lakh tourists register their entry annually. Local entrepreneurs have to make a quick buck during these few golden days. Says Parte, “Tourists from Mumbai are an organised lot and makeadvance bookings. But most tourists from Gujarat come here and then start looking for accommodation. During peak season, demand is more than supply and hoteliers make hay.”

On the other hand, during the low season, supply is sumptuous, leading to undercutting. Rooms which priced as high as Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per person slump to as low as Rs 200 or even less.

In order to prevent the irrational hike, the municipal chairman has mooted a proposal wherein the hotel tariffs will remain static, irrespective of fluctuations in demand and supply.

Regularisation in tariffs will help in providing rooms to visitors during the peak season at reasonable rates and ensure that hoteliers are not out of business for most part of the year.

The Mahabaleshwar Hill Station Municipality Council is also looking into the possibility of banning further hotel construction due to the saturation of hotel rooms.

Tourists may have turned their backs to Mahabaleshwar for more reasons than one. Plush holiday resorts andattractive overseas package tours have lured the wealthy, while the middle-class prefers to make a whistle-stop tour to Mahabaleshwar in hired vehicles. Most tourist packages in Goa or the South, for instance, offer lodging, meals and sight-seeing at affordable rates.

Recession could well be another factor influencing the poor turnout of visitors.

Adds Yusuf Shaikh, council member, “Several housing societies in Mahabaleshwar which accommodate paying guests during the peak season have also eaten into the demand for hotel rooms.”

Tourists, then, are no longer in awe of nature’s bounty. Says Parte, “The magic of the points in Mahabaleshwar where you can witness a glorious sunrise or sunset or stand and stare at the picturesque valleys and verdant greenery is no more an attraction for the tourists. They need entertainment on these spots.”

And with the High Court stressing on the implementation of heritage rules in the hill station, man-made entertainment mechanisms seem far-fetched.