Monsoon tourism: hotels gear up to make a splash

This is not a bad idea…tourism is not just about the beach. It would also be good if monsoon tourism would also look at fresh green fresh spaces with rain drops …even indulging in Ayurveda which is recommended during the monsoon.

http://englishnews.thegoan.net/story.php?id=18911

As monsoon sets in over Goa, hotels have begun devising strategies to attract tourists. Traditionally, monsoons are considered as lean season for the hospitality industry, but in the last few years, tourists particularly from North India have been flocking to Goa to take a break from scorching heat on their home turf.

While the first showers of monsoon are likely to hit the State any time soon, \’The Goan\’ spoke to some of the leading hotels to get a first hand view of their plans in the rains and how they have been geared up to cope up with the off-season.

Naturally, hotels are trying to make the best of this trend. Siddharth Savkur, general manager, Alila Diwa Goa in Majorda, said, “We started something called ‘Leisure Concierge Credit\’ in the month of May itself. We have a team here, which helps guests in making a plan to see Goa beyond the hotel.”

Savkur added, “The charge for this service is built in the package cost. When tourists arrive, we take them to local markets, Old Goa Churches, casinos and places like Braganza mansion.”

Savkur also said that older holiday-makers, who don’t have school going children, prefer coming to Goa during monsoons. Younger couples with school-going kids find it a little difficult to visit Goa in the monsoons as schools re-open in June in several parts of the country.

Manuj Behal, general manager, Radisson hotel in Candolim, said, “Lot of tourists visit us in monsoon especially from Delhi and other parts of North-India to escape the scorching heat. Considering that a lot of people come to Goa from North, we offer things like pakoda with cutting chai in our menu.”

Behal said he was expecting 80% occupancy this month, which is higher than previous years. But, he continued, “The problem is the tariffs are 40% down in June compared to the peak time of December and January. However, we end up making profits despite low tariffs in monsoon.”

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