PANJIM: After the two long weekends – Ganesh Chaturthi holidays the previous week and the Eid holiday last Friday which gave four and three days of continuous holidays to government servants – there is another long weekend coming up.
Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 comes on a Friday and will be another three-day holiday for government servants, the third long consecutive weekend.
The last two weekends saw a large inflow of domestic tourists from the neighbouring states and the tourism industry is expecting a similar rush this weekend.
“The last tourist season has been very weak and these short holidays which see a sudden rush of tourists are keeping us going. We are hoping that this week it will be the same,” taxi driver Naresh Korjuvenkar said.
A hotelier in North Goa, Charles D’Souza, said that as of now there are a few bookings but as the holiday approaches they expect more bookings.
It could be a good start to the tourist season as the first charter plane is set to arrive on the same day and the industry is upbeat of the fortunes in the coming season.
Meanwhile, the Excise Commissioner has informed liquor vendors that all licensed premises for sale of liquor will remain closed on October 2 it being Gandhi Jayanti.
