Hospitality Career E-Mag: NEWS | Bodh Gaya blasts result in industry loss; hotels lose on potential tourist footprint

The Hospitality industry in Bodh Gaya has witnessed mass-cancellation of bookings by many foreign tourist groups as a direct result of Sunday's serial blasts. Many hotels, including Mahamaya, Royal Residency, Taj Durbar, Imperial, Nico Lotus, Heritage, Sujata, RK International, had reported cancellation of small groups, numbering 15-25 tourists per group. These cancellations precede the tourist season, which kicks-off in October. General secretary of the Bodh Gaya Hotel Association, Sudama Kumar, said, “Nearly 20% tourist bookings till October have been cancelled.

We are yet to assess the impact of the blast on the tourist season and are keeping our fingers crossed." Sanjay Singh, general secretary of the Hotel Association, Bodh Gaya, said nearly 50% group bookings this month had already been cancelled. “Many foreign tourists have adopted a wait-and-watch policy and are making enquiries to find out how is the situation. Bookings from Japan and the two Korean countries have also been cancelled, affecting our business adversely,” he added. There are around 125 hotels and guest houses besides 56 monasteries in Bodh Gaya, of which 42 are registered.

“This is a lean season and less than 5% tourists are here. The blast has further crippled business prospects,” said north India convenor of the Coordination Committee of All India Buddhist Organisation, Dr Arvind Kumar Sinha from Patna. Dr Sinha further said, monasteries on an average received donations up to Rs. 4-5 crore annually and feared that the quantum of donation may also be affected.

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