Christmas in Goa may sound the perfect way to spend one’s year-end but getting to Goa could be a tough task and an expensive affair too as limited tickets are available, that too at a premium of almost 100 per cent.
Inquiries with travel agents revealed that there is a heavy rush for bus tickets, especially on the Mumbai-Goa route, as the trains have been completely booked. While there is a huge demand for air tickets with the prices of some tickets having even touched Rs 16,000, the prices of bus tickets too have been hiked from Rs 650 a month back, to Rs 1,500.
A city travel agent informed that the prices have been hiked because of the huge demand and many of the buses are running full. He said that with the trains also running full buses are a cheaper option as the airline tickets vary from Rs 8,000 to even Rs 16,000.
The Public Relation Officer of Konkan Railway, Mr Baban Ghatge informed that there are approximately around 200 passengers per train on the waiting list. He said that the Konkan Railway has also added special winter trains on Goa route including the bi-weekly super-fast special trains between Nizamuddin-Madgaon and Dadar-Ernakulam winter special train.
A senior official of an airline company on condition of anonymity informed that there is a rush for just about ten days which is quite normal; however the season has not taken off like in the previous years. He said that in many cases people have booked the flights well in advance and have got the tickets very cheap.
“You cannot judge the season by just looking at the figures of the Christmas week,” he said.
The chairman of the travel agents association of India, Goa chapter, Mr Nilesh Shah informed that it is a common trend of prices going up especially during festive season at all tourist destinations. He said that Goa is a popular destination among both domestic as well as foreign tourists. Mr Shah said in order to meet the growing demand during the festive season some airlines have even been prompted to introduce additional flights. Citing an example, he said Indian Airlines has started a direct Goa-Delhi flight this season.
Similarly, he said Air Arabia too has started extra flights to meet the demands of the expatriates wanting to come down for Christmas and New Year.
He said that the domestic season has been good while the international season is yet to take off by January. Mr Shah further informed that the hotels and airlines have been sold out to the capacity of 90 per cent and if there is no tragic incident in the country, the season should go on well. Further, Mr Shah informed that the rates this year, especially in the hotels are more competitive as compared to the last few years which is a positive sign and will be an added attraction towards Goa.
[Source]
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