Tourism Industry worried
PTI, Panaji
26 December 2007
Against the backdrop of warnings by anti-Special Economic
Zones (SEZ) group asking tourists to leave the state, the
tourism industry in Goa fears loss of revenue, especially
when New Year celebrations are round the corner.
The hotel owners fear large scale cancellation of room reservation
and some hotels have already begun bearing the brunt.
"I have been receiving frantic calls from hotel owners
who complain that tourists are avoiding Goa this New Year",
said Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industries Vice-President
Manguirish Pai Raikar.
He said the tourism industry will be severely affected by
the warning.
Goa's Movement Against SEZs, a NGO backed by political parties
like BJP and Shiv Sena, had requested tourists to leave the
state by December 28 as the anti-SEZ agitation may take ugly
turn.
Although Goa Chief Minister Digamber Kamat has said that
there is nothing to worry, a sense of panic could set in amongst
the tourists who plan their year-end in Goa.
While none of the five star hotels has officially confirmed
cancellation of reservtion, the wave of panic has already
spread amongst them.
Smaller hotels are the worst suffers, Rajesh Salgaoncar who
owns a small hotel in Panaji city, said.
Goa has 83 star and heritage hotels while hundreds of lodges
and rent out accommodations mostly in the beach belt. The
state has expected 25 lakh tourists this season.
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