AHMEDABAD: Uncertain weather, flooded tourist destinations, flight irregularities and Rakshabandhan seem to have come together to affect tour bookings for the I-Day weekend. Tour operators estimate that this
Independence Day weekend, bookings are down
by 40%
vis-a-vis that last year.
“This time, floods in Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra and other parts of the country have affected business. Many short getaways popular with Gujarat’s tourists are being avoided until situations improve,” said Anuj Pathak, secretary, Travel Agents And Tour Operators’ Association of
Gujarat
(TAG).
“We are witnessing at least 35% decline in bookings against what we had last year,” Pathak added.
Describing one of the biggest reasons behind the decline of bookings this year, Pathak said, “Rakshabandhan has also fallen on August 15, and for many in Gujarat observing the rituals at home with family is more important.”
Industry players said that holiday bookings have declined despite two adjoining long weekends that people could have used.
One could avail a break from August 10 to 15 by adjusting two days leave – on Tuesday and Wednesday. The next opportunity was August 15-18 by adjusting a day’s leave on Friday.
The weather has played the biggest spoilsport for tour operators as there’s a spate of booking cancellations.
“With heavy rain in Maharashtra and southern parts of India, there’s been a slew of booking cancellations. Train and domestic flight movements were affected,” said Manish Sharma, secretary, Travel Agents’ Federation of India (TAFI) – Gujarat chapter.
Sharma, however, said a good number of tourists have cancelled bookings for domestic destinations, but chosen international destinations like Bangkok and Pattaya. However, bookings for Udaipur and Kumbhalgarh haven’t diminished, tour operators in Gujarat say.
“I badly needed a break and want to use the long weekend to enjoy a getaway in Rajasthan. The weather is simply blissful,” said Meghna Patel, a city-based professional.
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