Creative India: Few know how to handle a recession
NEW DELHI – “Business looks bleak over the next few months,†says Rajeev Kohli
, director of marketing at 
Creative Travel India, but he urges caution in reducing tour and hotel rates.
He adds, “The last time a global recession happened was in 1929, so I think few of us really know how to react and what to do.
“We on our part in India have taken an initiative to declare 2009 as a Visit India 2009 year.â€
“We are also seeing more and more requests from different parts of the world for reduction of rates.
“We as a destination totally appreciate the need for a price correction. We understand the pain the western economies are going through.
“Having said this, one does need to understand that even in this bleak economic period, the Indian economy will still grow at a rate of over five percent, which is surpassed only by China.
“Hotels in India do not rely solely on foreign incoming travellers and our domestic base is substantial. This makes the case for price reductions a hard one.
“Having said this, I think our hotels do realise that in the interest of the destination and business in the long run, we do meet the aspirations of our global partners.
“So, as an industry, we are doing our best to help alleviate the situation,†Kohli added.
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