Thursday, November 12, 2020
The charters will not be landing at Dabolim airport that quickly. The aircraft that fetched dollars and pounds in very decent numbers will not take off from their respective airports. This year, however, the rupee will rule the roost. Domestic tourists are expected to visit in large numbers and the season is expected to be very good for all concerned.
The members of the tourism industry in Goa seem confident that the season will be positive with definite ideas as to who would be doing good business.
Savio Messias, a veteran tourism entrepreneur said that the domestic tourist would be a treasured guest. He said, “The domestic tourist will come in large numbers. I strongly believe that people will stay in homestays and apartments this season. This is as per the study which was conducted. When groups come they prefer to stay in homestays and apartments and when couples come they will stay in good hotels”.
Messages continued, “This is revenge tourism, people have been suffering at home and in Goa they experience freedom. They come here to enjoy the beaches, cuisine and party life. I have been told by the people who handle bookings online that they are being swamped with inquiries. They feel a lot of people want to come to Goa. That is heartening”.
Serafino Cotta, the President of Small and Medium Hotels Association felt that the graded star hotels and the homestays would do very well. Cotta said, “Many of the graded star hotels have drastically reduced rates making them very attractive to a larger percentage of the market. A large number of homestays are second homes for people living in Delhi. They are being managed by Goans and are wonderful properties. Domestic tourists will stay in these places for sure. A large number of hotels below three stars will stay closed because many just don’t have the money to restart or they will be unable to compete with higher star properties that have reduced tariffs.”
Many hoteliers in Goa said that the branded hotels would do very well since they followed all necessary norms, and also with the rates reduced drastically, making them an attractive proposition. The middle-class tourist would stay in lower-ranked hotels which would boost business all around.
Tags: domestic tourists, goa
