More tourists arrived in the district and the number would have been more as many from West Bengal were held up due to elections. In May and June till date 50,811 and 33, 500 tourists arrived. In May last year the number was 46, 696 and in June 37,852. “Trends are showing upward movement as more and more people were showing interest in spending their holidays in the city as well as in Araku Valley,” said the regional manager of AP Tourism De-velopment Corporation, Mr R.V. Suresh Kumar Reddy.

Expecting a hike in the ensuing winter and the next summer, the corporation has proposed to increase the number of rooms in different places. The cottages would be renovated in Rushkonda and the guest house belonging to Visakhapatnam Port Trust might be taken over. To offer more places to the tourists and pilgrims, the corporation is developing a budget hotel at Arasavilli in Srikakulam and smaller rooms at Ramatheertham and Thatipudi in Vizianagaram district with the Central financial assistance.

Similarly, a beach resort is also being developed in Baruva in Srikakulam at an estimated cost of Rs 2.5 crore. Tenders for this resort would be called soon, Mr Reddy said. The pilgrims, mostly coming from West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Orissa, visit Araku Valley, Ananthagiri, Jingle Bells at Tyda and Borra Caves. Haritha Hill Resort and Haritha Valley Resort at Araku Valley have 130 rooms, Ananthagiri 28 rooms, Tyda 18 Rooms, Rushikonda 58 rooms and Yatri Nivas at MVP Colony Beach Road 47 rooms.

Apart from APTDC run hotels, many budget hotels are run by the private agencies both in Araku Valley and in city. “We are expecting a boom this Dasara season as many missed the summer in Vizag and Araku Valley,’’ Mr Reddy said.