Buzz at tourist hubs as ’24 starts with 2 long weekends
Times of India | 12 January 2024
Kolkata: Travel buffs in Kolkata are all set to make the most of the two extended weekends right at the beginning of the year. With the enthusiasts planning short retreats around Kolkata, accommodation facilities at weekend destinations like Mandarmani, Tajpur, Purulia, Jhargram, Santiniketan and Bakkhali have been filling up fast. From beaches and forests to historical places, holiday destinations at a distance of a few hours from Kolkata are the hot spots.
Since both January 12 (Swami Vivekananda’s birthday) and January 26 (Republic Day) fall on Fridays, the subsequent weekends have made the holidays longer and merrier for most! Many had even marked these dates weeks in advance to make bookings on time. “We will visit Santiniketan from January 12 to 14. The weather is good and we had planned to travel on this weekend much in advance so that we could get rooms at optimal rates,” said Abhishek Dasgupta, who works for the legal department of a private bank.
“We are expecting a good turn-out of tourists on both weekends because most hotels are booked up to 80%-90% of their capacities. Many people plan their tours around these extended weekends. Most hotels have arranged for adequate staff in the kitchen as well as for house-keeping to handle the rush,” said Biswajit Mahapatra, joint secretary of the Mandarmani and Tajpur Hotel Owners’ Welfare Association.
Several resorts and ‘Rajbaris’ around Kolkata have also been booked for the two weekends. “We have found ourselves pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming interest from potential guests. Inquiries have poured in through various channels and have converted into bookings. Guests seem particularly drawn to the prospect of spending their extended weekends in a place that offers a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. We anticipate a high occupancy rate of over 70%,” said Rajib Roy Choudhury, senior general manager, Vedic Village Spa Resort. Most hotels in Santiniketan too are booked. “We are expecting a surge of about 50 percent due to extended weekends.We are fully booked on these two weekends,” said Bibhash Ghosh, manager of Santiniketan Villa in Bolpur. Various picnic spots are also booked for day-long outings on these days.