-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Wishing all Goanetters | | a Prosperous | | and | | Happy New Year - 2006 | | Goanet - http://www.goanet.org | --------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?hpFlag=Y&chklogin=N&au tono=211210&leftnm=lmnu4&lselect=0&leftindx=4 3.91 million foreigners visited India in `05 Our Corporate Bureau / New Delhi January 10, 2006 <Foreign tourist arrivals in the country during calendar year 2005 have touched an all-time high of 3.91 million, compared with 3.45 million last year, a rise of 13.2 per cent. The arrival figure has exceeded the tourism ministry's target for the year - 3.8 million. For the year 2006, the ministry has set the arrival target at 4.4 million.> <"Following a shortage in availability of rooms, hotel rates have spiralled this season. Bangalore's Leela notched up a deal for Rs 16,000 per night and Delhi's The Imperial at Rs 13,000 per night. In the same class, hotels in Singapore offer a night at half the rate," said an industry insider. According to Bharat Hotels' Chairman and Managing Director Lalit Suri, the demand for rooms is double the supply (at 91,000 room-nites). Tour operators saw a huge rush of tourists and had to even send tourist groups back. There is, however, huge room for growth as India just has a 0.44 per cent share in global travel. Further, hotels in metros have seen most of the rush and are running to full capacity in the ongoing tourist season (October-March). Even destinations like Agra, Jaipur or Srinagar, expected to do well, have not been able to command $100 per night. > ---- What is the (investment, not pricing) response of the hotel industry in Goa? Perhaps paralysed into inaction by the uncertainty over Dabolim/Mopa! What a shame! -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Goa - 2005 Santosh Trophy Champions | | | | Support Soccer Activities at the grassroots in our villages | | Vacationing in Goa this year-end - Carry and distribute Soccer Balls | --------------------------------------------------------------------------
