PANJIM: The drop in arrivals this ongoing tourist season is having a major impact on the hotel industry, particularly at the peak period when Goa once upon a time boasted of huge footfall of tourists.
More than 90 percent starred hotels have not touched 100 percent occupancy despite the coastal State earning the reputation of hosting gala events during the Christmas and New Year festivities.
Many 5-star hotels are forced to slash the tariffs while the other starred hotels have decided not to go for seasonal increase in room charges. The tourism stakeholders have lost all hopes of seeing a surge in footfalls by year-end.
“We would increase the room tariffs by Rs 1,000 from mid-December till the New Year, but the present situation is such that our tariffs have remained static to entice tourists back into Goa. In Panjim, the hotels have recorded barely 80 percent occupancy and many in the coastal belt are also complaining of the same. This time we did not get many inquiries too regarding the availability of rooms,” prominent city-based hotelier Gaurish Dhond informed Herald.
Unarguably, Goa is regularly named among world’s most visited holiday destinations but several factors in the last two-three seasons have played a spoilsport. Infrastructural hiccups, depriving charter flights of incentives at the airport and Goa being one of expensive destinations are among many reasons attributing to the very disappointing season for the Goans.
“Construction activity and the digging of roads is an annual process, and this is also why visitors want to keep Goa at bay. The bad road structure and improper facilities on the beaches which is what Goa is famous for and so many other reasons have marred tourism,” said another hotelier adding that the hotels are facing the heat despite many attempts to attract tourists.
On Goa’s image as an expensive tourist hub, Dhond lamented the inappropriate marketing strategy by the authorities. “There are rumours that Goa is expensive but this is not the truth. If the authorities market Goa properly, the arrivals will see greater improvement,” he added.
In a bid to salvage its reputation as a top tourist destination, many luxury hotels have started slashing room rates with some properties offering discounts of more than 50 per cent. One such hotel in the South Goa, known among high profile personalities, is offering rooms ranging between Rs 42,000 to Rs 50,000 per day; which would not be less than Rs 1 lakh until the previous peak tourist seasons. Similarly, another 5-star hotel has reduced per day/night room charges to Rs 33,000 compared to Rs 80,000-Rs 1.25 lakh last November-December.
“Although we will suffer revenue loss, the lowering of room tariffs will at least bring in tourists to our hotels. We still have not recorded 100 percent occupancy. Rooms are available on walk-in,” senior manager of a luxury hotel said with a request to not name the property as it would harm the brand’s repute.
The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) has supported non-inflated room charges with its president Savio Messias stating, “It should not be a substantial increase in the rents. A moderate increase in the tariffs during the peak season is however acceptable.” The TTAG is however not happy with the poor season so far.
The stakeholders are upset that massive increase in airfares is also resulting in the drop in arrivals.
It is learnt that during a meeting of the hoteliers last season, many recommendations on the reduction in tariffs were discussed.
