The people of Darjeeling, involved in the tourism sector, are expecting a windfall this festive season

DARJEELING 11 SEPT: The people of Darjeeling, involved in the tourism sector, are expecting a windfall this festive season, thanks to normality returning to the Hills after the state Assembly passed the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Bill.
There has been an increase in the number of hotel/car bookings this year, said Mr Mahendra Aggarwal, owner of a travel agency in the Hills. “There has been a rise in car bookings this Puja season. Compared to the past several years the bookings have soared by 30 per cent,” said Mr Aggarwal.
The reservations in most hotels in Darjeeling are also impressive with tourism packages booked till October end. “Compared to last year the booking in my hotel for the Pujas is considerably good and has started from the first week of October,” said Mr Rajesh Rajak, general manager of another hotel in Darjeeling. During April-June, the inflow of tourists was high with more than one lakh tourist visiting the Hills. "After the agitation and the regular bandhs ended here, the tourism sector has been picking up well, especially with the instant rise in hotel and car bookings this festive season. I am very happy with the booking, my hotel is booked till the end of October," said Mr Prawin Pradhan, a local hotelier.
-SNS