There is no good luck dropping from the sky this Valentine’s day for Goa’s hoteliers and
restaurant owners. On the big day where love is celebrated, packaged and
marketed, there is no love landing for them in the form of tourists. Reason:
Crazy airline prices
An average person travelling has to pay
around 6,000 to 9,000 bucks for per head in a return trip for Mumbai to Goa
flights. Imagine the rate for two heads; it would be around 18,000- 20,000. The
keynote is simple, why would anyone want to spend so much on a fight just an
hour, when they can enjoy a grand valentine’s eve in their own locality at an
exotic restaurant. Perhaps, even make a foreign package trip in that entire
amount being paid for the airfare.
Café speaks to
F&B outlets on how their business is being affected.
Of course the business is being affected. The amount you have
planned to spend for your vacation, if it goes for your airfare then people
won’t be visiting the topmost restaurants, they would rather go to cheaper
restaurants. It devaluates the whole experience and they will have to
compromise on things they want to enjoy. In this kind of situation, why would
anyone want to compromise and come to Goa… they would probably celebrate in
their own area. We are having a couple’s special for the Valentine’s Day, but I
cannot justify on what outcome we would receive on that day seeing the
situation on high air rates.
RAAGHAV SETHI,
Fisherman Warf
Panjim,Unit Manager
Goa’s tourism industry has taken a blow to a large extent with
the soaring airfares. Within the same price range, couples have the choice of
jetting off to places such as Thailand or Dubai to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
Hence any F&B outlet is directly affected as well.
AKSHAY ANAND, Old
Bombay Arpora, Business Partner
According to DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) the
actual flying time to Goa is forty five minutes, but the airlines have declared
it as an hour and 10 minutes. So these flights actually are forced to fall into
a higher bracket instead of being included in the scheme of Udhaan where the
max price for the ticket should be Rs: 2500. As Goa is the celebratory
destination of the country, the airlines have decided to milk it for all it is
worth. The adverse effect due to airlines high prices is severely affecting the
tourism industry here. We are seeing more and more lack of booking at hotels
and empty restaurants. This issue must be raised with the tourism department
and the airfares made more affordable because as it is one can fly to
international destinations with the same price range.
VISHAL FATNANI, Casa
Playa,Business Partner
Well, that could be one of out of the many reasons, namely
exorbitant cab prices, influx of too many restaurants and quality of tourists.
But, Boca Loca being popular with locals too, we are not really affected to
that extent.
SARIKA VARSHNEI,
Boca Loca Candolim
During any festival or celebrations for which people come to
Goa, the airfares go up without fail. The hotel and restaurant business has hit
an all time low and the airfares spike does not help at all. One way of beating
this is by planning in advance. Also to improve footfalls, the authorities can
strategise special offers and festival packages. Whatever it is, we all need to
work together to bring Goa back up onto the top tourism list.
SHIMONTI
(RUMI), Cuebebar Assagao,
Owner
