‘Puja impetus to economy to be felt across various sectors’

Kolkata: Partho Ghosh, founder member of Forum for Durgotsab, said: “To showcase the festival as a global event, there were no cutting corners this year. The support from advertising industry was also huge.”
Malls have clocked record business with sales targets for the year that were 15%-20% higher than 2019 already met by August-September. Just one mall — South City — recorded a footfall of 2.4 million in September.In the first five days of October, the footfall was around 5 lakh. “South City Mall has crossed Rs 7 crore in business in these five-six days. The best since the mall reopened after renovation in 2018. Business was hit a bit due to the dry day on Sunday,” said mall vice-president Manmohan Bagree.
Acropolis Mall GM K Vijayan also said the facility had witnessed bumper footfall and sales during Durga Puja with apparel and F&B recording a 25% growth. Between Panchami and Dashami, the footfall crossed 2 lakh.
Liquor industry clocked a 50% rise in sales during this festival compared to 2019, with sales spiking by 200% on Panchami and Shashthi. Hotel & Restaurant Association of Eastern India estimates a 25% rise in business at city restaurants during festival. “Against last year, sales are up by 35%. Compared to 2019, the increase is 25%,” said HRAEI president Sudesh Poddar.
Though tourist arrivals at airport are fewer than 2019, they are way over the passenger count in past two years.
“There was also a huge flow of tourists from neighbouring states who drove down to Kolkata. This led to sell-out of most city hotel rooms,” said travel agent Jaydeep Mukherjee. “Business had been sluggish after pandemic but puja this year has provided a good impetus to the economic impact,” said economist Partha Ghosh.