Darjeeling sees a Rs 350-crore coronavirus hit this festive season

After losing almost entire summer business, tourism hotspot Darjeeling in Bengal apprehends a loss of over Rs 350 crore during forthcoming festive season. Apprehending more alarming long term downfall in domestic and foreign tourists arrival, many hotels have already started closing down.

" Darjeeling in eastern Himalayan region runs with over 90% occupancy for 90 days in a year on an average. That gives a business volume of around Rs 6 crore a day during peak season, which starts from mid March to continue till May. That we have lost," said Samrat Sanyal, General Secretary of Himalayan Hospitality and Tourism Development Network.

"Usually 35% of the domestic tourists visit during pre monsoon March to May slot, while 45% come in festive season from mid September to Mid November. These two put together contributes 80% of annual business of over 700 crore. This post monsoon is bound to be a big zero," apprehended veteran tour operator Aditya Bothra.

Around 50,000 premium class foreign tourists, near 10% of total arrival, contributes lions share to the rupee volume of tourism business in Darjeeling. Their major flow begins in October and ends before Christmas. But bookings are done well in advance and ground level arrangements for the travel starts from June- informed Pallab Bhattacharya, Director, Nature Beyond.

"Over 90% of these foreign bookings are already cancelled. Almost similar is the situation with domestic visitors. It is not possible to run the show with rest 10% even if that remains active," said veteran travel advisor Raj Basu. Apprehending too bad scenario, many Darjeeling hotels have already closed down.

“The long term ill effects are rather more serious. Foreign travel will largely depend on visa policy of countries. All our overseas business partners design, promote and market their packages well in advance. They are not in a position to design future season plans,” added Basu.

While West Bengal tourism Minister Gautam Deb said, "We will do our best to revive our tourism," almost all in the travel trade there said, "We do not find any silver lining for next couple of years."