The fortunes of the hospitality sector is beginning to look up with rise in occupancy rates in most hotels. With Christmas vacations and year-end holidays round the corner, bookings have gained momentum in the last two weeks. The occupancy rates hovered around 50 per cent till December 10 after which there was a surge in bookings and a good inflow of tourists, both domestic and international, said R. Rajendran of the Hotel Owners’ Association. Bulk of the bookings is being done online, he said.
Another hotelier confirmed that the occupancy rates have increased to 75 per cent and is expected to rise. “We expect accommodation to be sold-out in the run-up to Christmas and New Year,” he said. There are about 120 to 150 hotels catering to different segments — budget to luxury category.
The Forest Department indicated that accommodation in Nagarahole was sold out beyond the New Year. The situation is similar in Bandipur where accommodation has been sold out till the first week of January. The district administration’s attempts to shore up tourism by organising cultural programmes for tourists have been welcomed by stakeholders. “The district authorities will launch a ‘December to Remember’ programme from December 25,” Mr. Rajendran said.
