It is Diwali and it’s time for people to visit Goa in very large numbers. The beaches in Miramar in the morning are playing host to a large number of domestic tourists who are visiting from states near and far. They travel by jeeps, cars or buses. They are visible no doubt. Does this mean that hotels in Goa are packed to the rafters? What is the truth?
Cyril Fernandes owner of Little Nest Boutique Hotel based in Mandrem said business was ok and there was nothing to crow about. He said his hotel with fifteen rooms would be occupied over the weekend. With just five rooms occupied on Diwali, he said this was due to people still feeling apprehensive about the virus. Serafin Cotta who heads the association of medium and small hotels in the state said there was nothing much to crow about but it was certainly an improvement over last year when it was really bad. He said a large number of low budget tourists had come to the state and many of them were staying in North Goa using the facilities provided by the unorganised sector. In the south he said 5 star properties had picked up business and the posh restaurants between Cavelossim and Bogmallo were packed on Diwali. He said “They are doing business in lakhs, the crowds have to be seen to be believed. The five star properties have, it should be said, attracted business by slashing their rates. That’s the reality. Everyone is negotiating very hard.”
Service apartments like the River Hermitage in Arpora are doing decent business on Diwali. Devang Saraya the owner said he was 90 percent full on Diwali with guests coming from Mumbai, Gujarat and North India. They were staying for two to three nights. Business he felt would get even better in the days ahead.
Savio Messias, hotelier, felt business was quite good. He said “I will say it has been pretty good. A lot of people are coming in though it has not been packed. Business in both north and south Goa has been good. People are staying in the north for a couple of days and then moving to the south. I however believe there were bigger crowds during the Dussera weekend. According to reports, hotels are between 70-80 percent full. That is certainly an improvement.”
Even in the city of Panjim, a hotel like Salida Del Sol was full. An employee on the counter said they had received guests from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Business, the employee said, was good. The question of rates was touched upon by Vishal Desai the man behind Hotel 69 a property in Saligoa. He said people were coming in numbers but they were not willing to pay the rate of the hotel they would choose and would instead negotiate very hard. He said “I have 14 rooms and 2 or 3 rooms are left but negotiating is very hard. They want everything including free breakfast and discounted or free lunch. I know 5 star properties have slashed rates drastically and lower star hotels can never match them with the facilities for the rates they are willing to give.”
John Gomes of Cupid’s Heaven, a property based in Agonda said the budget tourist was coming in thanks to the discounts on offer. He said they were coming and staying in his property for a day or two and then moving out. On Diwali, ten of his twenty rooms were occupied. He said it was better now compared to the previous season and he hoped the festival of lights would be the start of good times.
Other hoteliers when spoken to said business was good though the rates were on the lower side. This was due to the rooms being booked a while ago. Now however rates were increasing and one of them speaking on condition of anonymity said rates would be back to old levels for Christmas and New Year.
Times are certainly changing and this Diwali has been a much better experience than last year and will certainly be some consolation for everyone.
