Holiday season to see 30 pc rise in biz this year: ASSOCHAM

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SME Times News Bureau | 22 Dec, 2014
Upcoming holiday season is expected to witness about 30 percent increase in the tourism activity comprising domestic tourists, outbound holidayers and inbound foreign visitors despite a sharp increase in the fares by airlines, according to an ASSOCHAM latest assessment.

While domestic, well-off 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 , hills of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, said ASSOCHAM survey.

Some area heading for Darjeeling, and other North Eastern destinations. These areas, besides Rajasthan, would be great hits among the foreign tourists landing in India.

Indian hospitality industry is anticipating an upsurge in the tourist footfall this season, 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 15 percent.

As per the findings, hotels are witnessing the steady increase in occupancy while coming out with special promotional schemes. Weekends are going to be busier with 12-15 lakh travelers likely to make a voyage to these destinations, as per the ASSOCHAM survey based on the feedback tour operators in metros.

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

According to the estimates made by the ASSOCHAM based on feedback received from various tour operators, bookings for Christmas and New Year eve’s celebrations have been peaking. The tour operators from different cities reveals there is a also steep fall in Kashmir tourism business by 35-40% this year due to badly hit by calamity.

Hilly areas across India like-Shimla, Nainital, Kullu, Manali, Massourie, Kufri, Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Mcleodganj etc are also going to register an increase of 35-40% in the visitor footfall this season, says ASSOCHAM analysis.

Around 55 percent of the respondents fall under the age bracket of 20-29 years, followed by 30-39 years (26 percent), 40-49 years (16 percent), 50-59 years (2 percent) and 60-69 years (approx. 1 percent).

The report was able to target corporate employees from 18 broad sectors, with maximum share contributed by employees from IT/ITes sector (17 percent) followed by financial services (11 percent) includes banking sector, stock brokerage house, insurance sector, financial consultancy and chartered accountants. Employees working in engineering and telecom sector contributed 9 percent and 8 percent respectively.

Nearly 6 percent of the employees belonged from market research/KPO and media background each. Management, FMCG and Infrastructure sector employees share is 5 percent each. Respondents from power and real estate sector contributed 4 percent each. Employees from education and food& beverages sector provided a share of 3 percent each. Advertising, manufacturing and textiles employees offered a share of 2 percent each in the results.

"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.