Cyclone Ockhi seems to have spoilt the December party of hoteliers, as a number of tourists have cancelled their bookings fearing their safety and also that of their family members.
PANAJI
Nikheel Shirodkar, general manager, ibis Styles in Calangute, said, "I am getting cancellations in the last two days. In fact, today (December 6), I have already got four cancellations since morning. In all these cases, we are giving 100% refund because cancellations are happening for the fear of a natural calamity."
This does spoil the party to an extent for hoteliers because they are used to making a killing in December, as domestic and international tourists pour into the state. Many hotels don't give you any refund at all if you cancel your bookings on Christmas and New Year's Eve. But in this case hoteliers are giving refund because cancellations happened due to reasons for which tourists can't be blamed.
Bhushan Bordekar, general manager, Windsor Bay in Calangute, said, "A group of tourists was coming to our property from Kolhapur this weekend, but now it is not coming because parents of the tourists from the group are not allowing them to go to Goa for the fear of cyclone. Another group of tourists with a child, which was supposed to stay at our property, has also cancelled its plans."
Ever since high tides hit the beaches of Goa due to cyclone on the night of December 2, the weather has not really cleared up in the state. Mild showers were witnessed even on December 6, which makes tourists wary of visiting the state.
Polly D' Cruz, general manager, The Golden Crown Hotel & Spa in Colva, said, "After the cyclone hit the state, we have had two-three Russian check-ins getting cancelled. Meanwhile, for the coming weekend starting December 9, bookings are not picking up. The impact of the cyclone can be easily seen in the Colva belt as a number of hotels have vacant rooms."
The hoteliers are nervous as to how they will fill
their rooms during the rest of December.
