Udhagamandalam: The Nilgiris District Vendors’ Association staged a protest at the Ooty main bus stand on Saturday, urging the government to relax Covid restrictions and open Nilgiris to tourists. Banning tourism has affected their livelihood, they said. “Since the lockdown last year, we have been facing difficulties. There was a good inflow of tourists only in the last three months,” said Mohamed Rafeek, a member of the association. “We are under tremendous stress because of the restrictions.” The vendors are doing business around tourist spots such as the botanical and rose gardens, Doddabetta peak, Ooty Lake, Sim’s Park, Lamb’s Rock and Dolphin’s Nose in Coonoor.