“…it would boost business and tourism. And, since Delhi served as a transit destination for many tourists, the festival will witness a huge number of footfalls.”
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s announcement about the ‘Delhi Shopping Festival’ that will be held from January 28 to February 26 next year, has been welcomed by hoteliers in the capital. Most said that it would boost business and tourism. And, since Delhi served as a transit destination for many tourists, the festival will witness a huge number of footfalls.
While a number of hotels and travel agency owners said it was too early to talk about the hospitality and tourism industry’s response to the shopping fest, it would be difficult to offer additional discounts or special packages since the industry was recuperating from the aftereffects of the Covid pandemic.
However, Kush Kapoor, CEO, Roseate Hotels and Resorts, was quoted by PTI saying that the ‘Delhi Shopping Festival would have a positive impact on the city’s tourism industry. “We have seen how the Dubai Shopping Festival has put Dubai on the map of world travellers. Delhi, with its shopping malls, open-air markets, eateries, cafes and world-class hotels, has a lot to offer to tourists. Though it might be a little early to give the numbers, we definitely see occupancies and the room tariff spiralling during the period. The (Covid-19) pandemic has impacted the room revenues and such steps from the government are welcome,” Kapoor said.
Heralded as the country’s “biggest” such event, the festival will see guests from all over the country as well as abroad to experience Delhi, its culture, food and shopping. Kapoor went on to mention that Delhi was a global city and a shopping festival would increase its charm. “The shopping festival will have a positive impact on tourism in the city, both domestic and in-bound,” he said.
The festival – with an outlay of INR 250 crore — will also include a wholesale shopping festival. It will have exhibitions on spirituality, wellness, health and gaming along with several entertainment programmes in which, Chief Minister Kejriwal had said, artistes from around the world would perform
Sanzeev Bhatia, Vice-President and General Manager of the well-known Metropolitan Hotel and Spa in the city, had similar sentiments. He said that the shopping festival would provide a much-needed boost to the hospitality and tourism industry.
“It (the shopping festival) will also give the required exposure to our culture, arts and food. If such initiatives are taken frequently…in addition to the promotions being done by the Ministry of Tourism, it will increase the flow of domestic as well as international tourists to the capital,” Bhatia said.
Chief Minister Kejriwal while making the announcement had said that the city’s government had started talks with hotels and airlines to provide special packages to those who wanted to visit Delhi at the time of the shopping festival.
The festival – with an outlay of INR 250 crore — will also include a wholesale shopping festival. It will have exhibitions on spirituality, wellness, health and gaming along with several entertainment programmes in which, Chief Minister Kejriwal had said, artistes from around the world would perform. The festival that will have 200 concerts and entertainment events over the 30 days.
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