(TAN): As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to affect thousands in the east Indian state of West Bengal, tourism business in the popular weekend destinations near Kolkata are going through a very bad time, especially this time of the year when business is usually at its yearly high. The Sundarbans, which normally see a surge of tourists during the Durga Puja holidays, is barely seeing tourists this time.
Sundarbans has the largest mangrove ecosystem of the world and it is home to the famous Royal Bengal Tiger. Four protected areas in the Sundarbans are enlisted as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Due to its vicinity to Kolkata, Sundarbans is a popular choice for travellers who wish to get away from the Durga Puja crowds of the city and spend a few days in solitude. Consequently every year almost all the hotels are sold out well ahead of Durga Puja.
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But Covid-19 has changed everything this year. With a large number of people staying indoors to check the spread of the pandemic during Durga Puja (much like it happened during Onam in South India), Sundarbans are seeing their bookings take a plunge. Local tour operators said that most hotels did not even receive calls with booking enquiries.
Some hotels had even decided to rent rooms out at heavily discounted rates, but that did not help much. The hotels secured only 5% booking this year, according to four tour operators.
