Kodagu Tourism Sees Unexpected Drop in 2025 Visitor Numbers
Tourist arrivals at notified destinations in Kodagu district fell during 2025. This decline reversed earlier expectations that total visitors would cross the 50 lakh mark.
Official Figures Show Clear Decline
Tourism department records reveal that 43,62,332 visitors came to Kodagu district in 2025. This number includes foreign tourists. The total represents a drop of 2.10 lakh from the 2024 figure of 45,72,790 visitors.
The 2025 yearly total also fell slightly below the 2023 count of 43,69,507 visitors. Officials clarified that these figures only cover tourists recorded at specific tourist spots. They do not include people who stayed in resorts and hotels without visiting ticketed or recorded destinations.
December Peak Month Shows Sharpest Drop
December typically sees the highest tourist numbers due to year-end holidays and New Year travel. However, last December recorded a sharp decline.
- December 2024 saw 8,01,269 tourists visit destinations
- December 2025 recorded only 5,52,072 visitors
- This represents a decline of 2.49 lakh tourists
- December 2023 had 5,82,906 visitors
- December 2024 remained the highest in the last three years
Attraction-Wise Visitor Breakdown
Raja Seat in Madikeri remained the most visited attraction in 2025 with 7,63,494 visitors. However, this number declined by 2.27 lakh compared to 2024.
Nisargadham in Kushalnagar ranked second and showed a marginal increase. It rose from 5,98,605 visitors in 2024 to 6,06,886 in 2025.
Other 2025 attraction-wise counts include:
- Dubare: 4,17,076 visitors
- Harangi: 3,34,921 visitors
- Abbey Falls: 2,81,698 visitors
- General Thimmaiah Museum at Madikeri: 51,239 visitors
- Mandalpatti: 41,697 visitors
Stakeholders Cite Growth Constraints
Tourism stakeholders identified several constraints affecting tourism growth in Kodagu. They mentioned inadequate basic amenities at destinations. They also pointed to restrictions imposed by the district administration and police around New Year celebrations.
Kundyolanda Dinesh Cariappa, president of the Kodagu District Hotel-Resort Association, argued that tighter controls on year-end festivities reduced party-oriented travel. He suggested relaxing rules at least for one day at the year-end to boost tourism.
