Tuesday, March 5, 2019
As the government is fully charged to endorse Carnival 2019 as a tourist attraction, the stakeholders of the hospitality sector have mixed reaction on the effect of the festival in terms of tourist arrivals.
According to Dacia Godinho, commercial director, the Double Tree by Hilton, Panaji, the response is quite encouraging as the hotel has been witnessing an increase in check-ins. The recently launched resort is experiencing its first carnival season. “We have already got guests coming in to experience the Carnival vibe in the city. The February season did really well and we expect the same this month,” said Godinho.
The rebranded Fern Kesarval, Verna, is similarly optimistic on the celebrations. “We have received a good response through online bookings and 15 percent increase in occupancy as compared to the previous year,” disclosed Amit Kumar, general manager, Fern Kesarval. The Verna hotel made its rebranded property to the public with an additional wing comprising upgraded rooms for the guests. The hotel is eyeing Carnival 2019 positively.
On the other hand for Sanjay Naik, resort manager, Baywatch Resort, Colva, the ongoing season continues to be slow. “We are experiencing a unsatisfactory response to the festival this year as there is a drop in domestic tourists visiting the state. The average occupancy is around 70-75 percent and the numbers have been low for most hotels across the state,” he said.
Antonio D’souza, owner, Villa Calangute, a three-star hotel, explains that, business is quite sluggish. “A room that would accommodate just two guests now accommodates a group of four,” says D’souza. Having a similar view is Ajinkya Parab, managing partner, La Riviere,Morjim. “The overall influx in tourist is low in Morjim and the business has been affected,” says Parab.
Tags: Carnival
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