PANAJI
The announcement of a new venue for Sunburn in Dhargalim, after other locations faced pushback from locals, has set off a wave of price hikes in the accommodation sector with tariffs skyrocketing by over 100 times.
Until a probable new location is found, possibly back in Anjuna, the quiet village will be the talk of the town.
Some high-end hotels and resorts around Dhargalim have seen tariffs increase 180 times their usual prices. For example, according to a travel portal, ‘Amoravida by & Apple Resorts’ offers rooms at around Rs 1.12 lakh per night during the Sunburn festival, from December 27 to 30.
The rates drop significantly to around Rs 13,000 on New Year’s Eve, traditionally a peak demand period for Goa. Normally, the resort’s nightly rates in December hover between Rs 6,000 and Rs 7,000.
The steep price increases are not isolated to Dhargalim. Surrounding areas, including Morjim, Pernem, Mandrem and even the slightly farther Arambol, have also seen similar surges, following high-season pricing trends.
According to the booking sites, from December 27-30, the rates at Riva Beach Resort are about Rs 24,786 while Lavisa Beach Resort is priced at Rs 29,503. In Pernem, Anahata Retreat Sea Front Resort – a yoga wellness retreat – has quoted around Rs 29,000 while quite a few places are still below Rs 15,000 with tariffs likely to shoot up in the subsequent days.
If not only these places, homestays particularly in Bardez – another option for Sunburn – have put up their per-day rates. A homestay in Bardez, roughly 19 km from Manohar International Airport, is listed at Rs 82,000 per night on December 27. A luxury 4BHK villa in Mandrem is Rs 64,000 and some villas in Siolim have reached Rs 82,000 and even more per night, with options for buyers to make payments in installments.
Boutique hotels have been put up at Rs 15,000 per night for December 27-30, at least as of now. Local stakeholders suggest that prices could climb even further as the event draws closer, which coincides with the peak tourist season.
Meanwhile, the hospitality industry is keeping a close eye on possible venue shift as organizers have faced fresh protests from Mandrem villagers.
