This year, delay in rains means your trip to a nearby hill station like Matheran, Lonavla or Mahabaleshwar will cost less than last year.
This year, delay in rains means your trip to a nearby hill station like Matheran, Lonavla or Mahabaleshwar will cost less than last year.
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Tour operators, hoteliers and private car renters have dropped their rates by almost 20 per cent.
"We have incurred a huge loss this year, as the monsoons have been delayed by almost a month. Hill stations have still not witnessed adequate rains, which has forced us to reduce the rates by 20 per cent.
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If the situation persists, we will have to drop our rates further to woo tourists," said Sunil Savla of Neeta Tours and Travels. Savla has reduced room rates by Rs 300-500 in his hotels at Lonavla, Shirdi and Mahabaleshwar.
Travel freaks, of course, are happy. Manthan Shah, a businessman from Matunga, said, "Travel agents quote higher rates during the monsoon season for hill stations.
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The discount will help us save money during recession. But I hope we get enough rain, or else, it may spoil the holiday mood."
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Said Deranna Shetty, owner of Darshan Travels, Vile Parle, "This monsoon, we have received very few enquiries due to the delay in rains and the economic slowdown.
Thus, we have decided to provide cars at affordable rates (see box)." Shetty has reduced his rate by Rs 1-3 per km, depending on the vehicle.
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Int'l tourists
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Meanwhile, swine flu has also affected the tourism sector, especially with WHO raising concerns over increase in virus activity during the monsoon.
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"Even international tourists mostly from the Middle East who prefer travelling during the monsoons, have reduced due to the swine flu alert," said Iqbal Mulla, owner of Treasure Tours and Travels.
ALL FALL DOWN
A room in Lonavla that would have cost Rs 2,500 last year, is now priced around Rs 2,000
Car rent per km
|
Vehicle |
2008 |
2009 |
|
Innova |
Rs 12 |
Rs 10 |
|
Qualis |
Rs 9 |
Rs 8 |
|
Indica |
Rs 7.5 |
Rs 7 |
|
Honda City |
Rs 15 |
Rs 13 |
|
Tavera |
Rs 10 |
Rs 9 |
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