The recent terror attacks and ongoing global crisis slow down the inbound tourism industry, with occupancy rates for most first-class hotel have plunged substantially. According to the recent reports of the Federation of Hotel and Restaurants Associations of India (FHRAI), the decrease is about as much as 30 percent.
It’s not a surprise when the hospitality sectors are now desperately trying to attract tourists with series of freebies.
From free meals, glamorous spa treatment to buy-one-get-one- free packages, upgrades and free credits, every Indian hotel is rolling out their carpet just to lure tourists. However, if it’s not the lower prices that can attract tourists, then hotel are giving value-additions through free entrance to tourist destinations, extra nights for their hotels, entertainment and meal vouchers and even cash-rebates on booking.
With a large amount of business entity being swallowed by the quicksand of economic recession, many of Indian hotels are also offering room rates lower than their regular tariffs. “Even a modest rate is better than no rate at all,” Vishal Bhatti told BT. Bhatti owns the Cloud Nine resorts located in the northern state of Uttaranchal India. “A hotel room is a highly perishable commodity. So occupancy is of paramount importance,” Bhatti added.
Goa, one of the most popular tourist destinations for westerners, is among the greatly affected areas by the present crisis. With most of the potential international tourists are either paying off their loans at the highest interest rates or losing off their jobs, most of India’s famous holiday spots suffers from hard beating, by as high as 40 percent, according to Goa’s Travel and Tourism Association.
To slow down further decrease of tourists, Goa’s tourism industry is now slashing hotel rates the way they have never done before. The way association president Ralph de Sousa defines it, 20 percent discounts are giving away across the tourism industry of the region “to make sure that the destination’s annual repeat clientele of about 40 percent does not slip away”.
Indian government is also issuing directives for hotel owners to cut down tariffs for 15 percent to boost the declining industry.
In order to relieve recession’s surging effect, many hotel owners are working double time along with travel agents, airlines, car rentals and other portals, not only to lure tourists but also for weeding as well as corporate meetings. This step is expected to ease up the domino effect of global recession.
Aside from luxury and star-class hotels, travel websites are also offering freebies and great deals. The Kerala package for four days, three nights are seen at makemytrip.com for only 19,555 rupees or US$574 per person, which also include accommodation on Kumarakom Lake Resort, and free breakfast and transfers.
Even the highest luxury hotels are also offering great deals. Park Plaza Hotel on Noida, India is also offering 8,999 rupees per night for its double room until 31 December as against a regular rate of 13,000 rupees per night. Similarly, Marriott group is quoting a free credit of 3,000 rupees until 11 January for all its Indian properties.