X-Mas, New Year holiday season to boost Ahmedabad tourism biz by 25%: Assocham

According to a latest survey by industry chamber Assocham, the upcoming holiday season is expected to witness about 25 per cent increase in the Ahmedabad tourism business comprising domestic tourists, outbound holidayers and inbound foreign visitors despite a sharp increase in the fares by airlines.

"With the heavy snowfall in Shimla, Nainital, Kullu, Manali, Massourie, Kufri, Kalimpong  has hit the tourism industry in Ahmedabad, as around 15-20 percent of tourists from Ahmedabad have cancelled their bookings in hotels and allied arrangements with travel agents due to the bad weather," the survey said.

While domestic, outbound tourists are booking for estimations like Dubai, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Maldives and even as far as  South Africa, those settling for domestic spots would be heading for Goa, Kerala beaches, Agra etc. These areas, besides Rajasthan, would be great hits among the foreign tourists landing in India. Hilly areas across India including Shimla, Nainital, Kullu, Manali, Massourie, Kufri, Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Mcleodganj etc are also going to register an decrease of 35-40 per cent in the visitor footfall this season, says Assocham analysis.

D S Rawat, secretary general, Assocham said, "With  improving business and economic sentiment, high-end professionals in private sector and others well off would be inclined to spend more on leisure tourism this season as compared to last year."

Assocham carried out the survey in ten major cities like Ahmedabad, Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Lucknow and Thiruvanathpuram and interacted with as many as 4,500 people included frequent travellers, professionals, travel trade and the agents booking foreign tourists.

The increase in the number of travellers for the New Year has kept the cash register ringing, bringing smiles back in the travel and hospitality trade. The popular tourist destinations have reported good bookings for the year-end over the previous year", added Rawat.