Karnataka’s popular holiday spots, homestays and destinations in Kodagu and Sakleshpur will be closed during the long election weekend this April. Ever since the Election Commission announced the polling date of April 18, that coincides with Mahaveer Jayanti and Good Friday, both public holidays, homestay owners in both the districts have stopped taking bookings for the long weekend.
As per reports, people who have already booked at these resorts before the dates were announced have been requested by the owners to reschedule their holiday. Owners have taken this initiative to ensure this will help in a good turnout of voters on election day.
In fact, owners, in the flood-hit town of Madikeri that’s trying to revive business, have turned down booking requests. Viju Changappa, the president of Kodagu Homestays Association has said to a daily, “We are doing this in our limits. Our members are aware of the election dates across the country, who will ask tourists about their participation in elections if they book on their respective voting days.”