Puducherry: With just one day left, Puducherry is all set to give a grand welcome to New Year as revelers from Chennai and elsewhere seem to be heading for Union Territory to celebrate the New Year in large numbers. Hotels and venues where New Year eve parties will be organised have lined up a series of events to attract party animals. Several hotels have already completed issuing early birds passes for New Year parties with many offering great deals.
Hotel bookings in Puducherry have picked up after poor business in the early weeks of December. During the year-end there has been a drastic increase from normal days in the occupancy rate of hotels in the Union Territory with several hotels recording an occupancy rate of 80 to 100 per cent ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations on Sunday. “December is the peak season for Puducherry tourism. Almost all rooms are booked through online websites and we do not have too many cancellations so far. We are expecting a good new year,” said a hotelier.
“Booking websites reveal that room rates in the city have doubled for spending the New Year ’s eve in Puducherry. Room rates at all hotels – luxury, mid-scale or budget – are up since last week and we are struggling to find a room here,” said Akhila S, who came from Kerala to celebrate New Year in Puducherry.
Puducherry gets maximum number of tourists from Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai. Along with domestic tourists, foreigners also join in the New Year parties.
At the same time the territorial administration is also in full swing to prevent any untoward incident during New Year celebrations. The administration has also warned strict action against tax evasion by the hoteliers and also hosting banned dances at parties. Puducherry municipality has asked hotel owners to obtain license by paying the requisite fee and entertainment tax prior to conduct any event. Lt Governor Kiran Bedi had also warned stringent action against tax evaders. At the same time the hotel owners had requested the administration to revise the decision to impose entertainment tax as it will badly hit the hospitality industry.
