Gujaratis choose poll over travel

AHMEDABAD: Fifty-year-old Kumar Shah had been waiting for this day for long, the day he would hold his grandchild in his arms.
But, he won’t be there when his daughter delivers in a hospital in the US around December 10. For, he wants to cast his vote when the state goes to the polls on December 12.
And, Shah isn’t alone. Travel crazy Gujaratis are turning conscientious citizens with a vengeance as many are planning to cut down on travelling to ensure that they exercise their franchise.
Mohsin Kadri, an advocate, was to leave for Ajmer with his family on December 5 and had planned to return on December 15.He cancelled his plans once the poll date was announced.
Kadri from the Shah-e-Alam area says, “We put off the trip because we didn’t want to miss out on voting. We’ll leave Ahmedabad after December 15. We’ll have to travel by road as bookings are not available, but we don’t mind that,� he says.
Ajay Shah, a businessman from Ellisbridge, and his wife Priya had planned to celebrate their first marriage anniversary on December 12 in Singapore. But, they are not ready to miss “their chance to make a difference�.
“We have postponed our plan till December 25 and have decided to celebrate the anniversary around Christmas,� says Ajay.
Sanjeev Chajjer of Cox and Kings says, “Many are postponing their travel plans due to the elections.
There is a heavy increase in bookings and outward-bound traffic from Gujarat after December 20.
There is a 50 per cent increase in bookings for airlines and hotels after December 15. Even after paying the Christmas surcharge, bookings are not available.�
“The outward and inward flow of tourists was quite controlled last year. However, this year we get six to seven bookings a day, all wanting to leave Gujarat only after December 15,� says Shreya Gupta of Raj Travels.
Gupta has also observed a trend where tourists are planing to stay away from the state during the poll period. “Many NRI tourists, who arrived in Gujarat in November-end, have opted for 15-day India-wide tours. These NRI tourists want to stay away from the state till December 15,� she adds.
Even business plans have been affected. Jagat Shah of Global Network had to reshuffle dates for a 12-member business delegation going to Bangladesh. “The delegates wanted to participate in the elections and wanted to leave on December 20.
Many delegates said finalising their business plans would be easier once they witness a steady government in the state interested in progress and prosperity.�
Abhijeet Avashya, assistance sales manager from Jet Airways, confirms that the outward bound tourist traffic from Gujarat almost doubles after December 20. “There is an increase in bookings after December 15 and from December 20 the leisure traffic will increase. The loads of the flights are quite normal.
We have not received the average December season increase till December 15. However, from December 15 the heavy rush begins and the flights are almost booked from December 20 till January 10.� Air-India also confirms that tourist traffic from the state increases after December 20.