PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Ramnagar
The tourism season is currently at its peak in the Corbett town of Ramnagar. With summer vacations underway and people seeking relief from the heat scorching the plains, a large number of tourists are heading towards Corbett Tiger Reserve. The impact is clearly discernible in the booking status of various tourism zones of Corbett, as most safari zones remained fully packed for the Sunday morning shift.
More than 345 gypsies carried tourists for jungle safaris in the morning shift alone on Sunday, while 64 tourists enjoyed forest excursions through four canters operating in the Dhikala tourism zone.
In the Durga Devi tourism zone, 15 gypsies operated each in morning and evening shifts. Similarly, 30 gypsies conducted safaris in the Garjia and Bijrani zones. In the Dhela tourism zone, 15 gypsies operated in the morning and another 15 in the evening.
The Jhirna tourism zone witnessed the operation of 30 gypsies in the morning shift. In the Hathi Dagar zone of the Corbett landscape, 25 gypsies operated in the morning and evening shifts. Likewise, 30 gypsies each conducted safari tours in both shifts at Bhandarpani zone.
In the Sitabani area, 60 gypsies operated each in morning and evening shifts at the Pawalgarh Gate, while 60 gypsies conducted jungle safaris in the morning shift from the Tedha Gate of Sitabani. In the Dhikala tourism zone, four canters each operated in the morning and evening shifts.
The Phato tourism zone also witnessed huge demand from the tourists, where 50 gypsies operated in both morning and evening safari shifts.
The tour operators, Namit Agrawal and Rishabh Agrawal looked enthused over the surging influx of the tourists visiting Corbett and nearby hill stations. “With school vacations underway, we expect further surge in the tourist footfalls in the coming days. They are enjoying the jungle safaris and at the same time, experiencing the local culture and cuisine while revelling amidst the tranquil surroundings,” said Namit.
The spike in the tourist arrivals has brought cheers for those operating hotels, resorts and local tourism-related ventures in Ramnagar. The hotel and resort bookings have surged up considerably, while local markets are also witnessing increased footfall.
Considering the rush, the forest officials and tourism management authorities have made extensive arrangements to ensure smooth operations of the safaris and visitors’ safety.
