Local destinations are finding new favour with tourists from Gujarat and even abroad this Christmas vacation, say travel agents and tour operators from Ahmedabad.
Nearby destinations such as Rajasthan and Goa are also selling like hot cakes. According to the tour operators say that Christmas has brought cheer as business has started pouring in after Diwali vacation, which saw inquiries dropping compared to previous years.
Diu, Somnath, Dwarka, Saputara and Rannotsav are the major local destinations where Gujaratis are thronging. Bhavin Shah, director of World Travels, is happy with the rush to tourist destinations that has been revived. "Apart from Rannotsav, Statue of Unity is the latest attraction and people are thronging there," he told DNA.
Arrivals of Non-Resident Indians (NRI) during the winter season is also giving a boost to business, as, in addition to attending social functions, NRIs also love to travel, said Jigar Dudakiya, president of Gujarat Chapter of Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI). "This year, marriage season began early and we are also witnessing enquiries and bookings from honeymooners," said Dudakiya.
Manish Sharma, founder and director of Axar Travels said that Rannotsav is almost full while other destinations in Gujarat have been sold out as consumer sentiment has improved. Diwali vacation was hit as tourists did not prefer to go to flood-affected destinations such as Kerala and Himachal Pradesh. "Moreover, Diwali vacation was truncated because of sudden introduction of Navratri vacations," said Sharma.
The recent introduction of direct flights from Ahmedabad for destinations such as Jaisalmer, Dehradun and Jabalpur has also boosted air traffic on these destinations. "Normally these are 5-6 day tours because of long travel time.
With direct flight connectivity, one can visit these places for a 3-4 day vacation. A direct flight to Shirdi is also on the cards. Development of such infrastructure is good for tourism sector," said Dudakiya. He, however, wished that the recent meeting of GST Council would also have announced tax reduction from 28 per cent to 18 per cent for five star hotels. This could have given a further boost to the sector, he felt.
Short-duration international destinations such as Dubai, Bali, Singapore are also popular this Christmas.
NRIs Bring Cheer
Arrivals of NRIs during the winter season is also giving a boost to business, as, in addition to attending social functions, NRIs also love to travel, said Jigar Dudakiya, president of Gujarat Chapter of Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI). “Marriage season began early and we are also witnessing enquiries and bookings from honeymooners,” Dudakiya said
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