The Goan Network
PANAJI
Tourists, predominantly from Gujarat and Mumbai, have arrived in the State in such high numbers that hotels in North Goa are totally packed during the weekend. A number of hoteliers confirmed that they are expecting more business this weekend than even the Diwali weekend.
Sources attributed this huge surge of domestic tourists to post-Diwali vacations in several parts of India. Pawani Wadhwa, general manager, 10 Calangute, said, “We are 100% packed and that’s entirely due to domestic tourists. Tourists are mostly arriving from Gujarat and Mumbai.”
All kinds of domestic tourists have poured in Goa this week, most coming by buses and some even preferring to come by their own cars. While, Gujarat and Mumbai have accounted for the largest share of tourists this weekend in Goa, sources also revealed that tourists are coming in from other parts of India as well.
An official from Azzure by Spree Hotels in Calangute, said, “We were sold out on last four days. Tourists have come from places like Bangalore and Delhi.”
This is the reason that hotels in North Goa have started focussing so much on domestic tourists. Wadhwa further added, “Even if it is not a long weekend, domestic tourists tend to take Friday off, which gives them three days to come to Goa on any weekend.”
An official from Hard Rock Hotel in Calangute said, “We were 90% occupied this week. Families have come in huge number. A family from Gujarat has booked 7-8 rooms.”
However, it seems that mostly middle-income domestic travellers are coming to Goa this weekend as tariffs in 5-star hotels weren’t high. For example, a room was available at Taj-Holiday village for Rs 12,705 per night for a check-in on November 5 and check-out on November 7.
A room was available at Taj-Fort Aguada for Rs 14,218 per night on the same days. Such properties are known to charge upwards of Rs 30,000 per night on weekends, when high-income travellers come to Goa in large numbers.
