Airline, hotel bookings suffer post-attacks

Bangalore/Mumbai: The travel and tourism industry is likely to bear the brunt of the November 26 terror attacks on Mumbai, the commercial capital of India.
Airlines are expected to be hit badly as bookings for the holiday season travel from abroad drop massively after advisories are issued by various countries on travel into India. Travel agents were flooded with requests for cancellation of bookings. The terror attacks have struck fear into inbound tourists, who are cancelling their airline tickets and hotel bookings.
Anoop Kanuga, director, Bhathija Travels in Mumbai, said Thursday saw hectic cancellation of bookings into India. “Nearly 80% of our airline and hotel bookings by inbound tourists were cancelled while 20% have told us that they will get back shortly,” said Kanuga.
Mark D Martin, senior advisor, KPMG, agreed and said, “It is likely that there would be a spate of cancellations by inbound traffic around the holiday period. This is unfortunate for the aviation industry as December is considered a peak season of international travel into India.”
But there are some, like Kapil Kaul, CEO of Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation in India, who believe that the impact of the terror attack would be short-term.
29/11/08 Praveena Sharma & Nirmal John/Daily News & Analysis

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Nov 2008