Tourists flock Shillong in large numbers

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Dec 26: Notwithstanding the cash crunch due to demonetization, tourists from Assam, West Bengal and other States thronged Shillong to join the Christmas revelry. Hotels are packed, so as the guest houses and lodges located all over the city. “The turnout of tourists this year is in magnitude that the bookings were made more than a month ago for this festive season,” stated hotelier, even as he added, “this experience is unexpected in view of the demonetization exercise of the Union Government.”

The hoteliers who spoke to this correspondent said their business is good but they neither accept nor get old notes that could turn black money into white.  “We simply accept swipe cards or the newly printed notes from our customers,” a mager of a city based hotel stated even as he said that his rooms has been booked for the next ten days.

The rush of tourists is such that many tourists who failed to get an accommodation are seen sleeping in their own cars and hired taxis.

Superintendent of Police East Khasi Hills MH Kharkrang confirmed that the inputs received from the hotels and lodges speak about full packed hotels.

Moreover, the visit of tourists is evident from the numbers who visited the tourist spots in the pre and post Christmas days.