Fallout of liquor ban? Biharis headed abroad to ring in 2018
PATNA: Blame it on the liquor ban but many Biharis are foreign-bound to welcome the New Year.
If travel planners are to be believed, Pattaya beach and Phuket in Thailand, Waiotapu, the park with geothermal activities in New Zealand, and the desert village in Dubai are among the most sought-after destinations for Biharis to spend the yearend. Even beach destinations of the country, like Kovalam in Kerala or Anjuna in Goa, could witness a large crowd from the dry state to celebrate Christmas and New Year, tour operators say.
Top city operators, who admitted to low bookings last year, said there was a huge spike in registrations for travel this year, with one estimate putting registrations for tours abroad at around 1,200 already. Last year, there were not more than 700 bookings with the top 10 travel agents in the capital.
Bihar became a dry state on April 5 last year. Consuming, keeping or dealing in liquor is an offence under the state’s new prohibition law, which provides for imprisonment up to 10 years.
UN Mishra, who runs Jatak Travels in Patna, said people seemed desperate to get out. “Due to total prohibition, many plan frequent trips to Ranchi in Jharkhand or Kolkata in West Bengal for their fill,” he said. “Winter vacation is just an extension of this mood and the people don’t want to miss this opportunity. We are happy that it (liquor ban) has given a new lease of life to the state’s travel trade, which had crashed after demonetisation in November last year and ruined travel businesses. My bookings were pathetic last year at around 20, which has now increased to 90 already for all destinations, with more expected by last week this month,” Mishra said.
Sanjeev Kumar, who runs Mamta Tours and Travels in the state capital, said Bangkok and Macau attracted more Biharis because their casinos offered gambling facility along with free meal and liquor.
“Many are also preparing to touch base in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, which offer visa on arrival and star cruise trips along with free meal and liquor. After all, people want to relax and get rejuvenated,” he said. Interestingly, some 300 families are Bangkokbound already.
“The reason is simple. To spend five nights in Bangkok one has to spend hardly ₹30,000 even during the peak tourism season. In Goa and Kerala, the trip may cost you more than ₹35,000,” Shailesh Kumar of Almania Travels said.