This Christmas, tourist footfall surge brings cheer to Darjeeling
Times of India | 26 December 2024
123456 Darjeeling: After the footfall slump during Durga Puja, Darjeeling is witnessing a surge in the number of tourists visiting the Queen of Hills this Christmas. This has brought both relief and cheer to the travel and tourism industry.
According to local tour operators and hotels, there is at least a 20% increase in tourist footfall in Darjeeling.
To welcome tourists amid the year-end festivities, the hill town has been spruced up with Christmas decor creating a perfect holiday ambience for the revellers.
The slopes are adorned with blooming mistletoes. Choir tunes are resonating through the hills. The aroma of baked goodies wafted through the air. The Darjeeling Hoteliers Association (DHA) officials also confirmed an increase in number of bookings than Durga Puja.
"While the occupancy during Durga Puja typically reaches around 70%, this year it fell below 40%. However, there was a sense of relief when the footfall during Christmas rose to around 60%, indicating a positive trend and renewed hope for the hospitality sector in the hill station," said a DHA member. Pradeep Lama, DATA's general secretary, attributes increased tourism to North Sikkim's accessibility.
According to the permit cell data, North Sikkim achieved its highest tourist count for the 2024 season on Dec 23.
The region welcomed 2,628 visitors travelling in 486 vehicles. Lama noted that hotels were offering substantial discounts to attract visitors. "A hotel tariff, which was Rs 3,800 during the festive season, has been now reduced to between Rs 2,200 and Rs 1,800. There are more spot bookings than early ones," said Lama.