Tourists looking forward to ushering in 2008 in Goa have a reason to rejoice. Activists opposing the proposed setting up of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the state have decided not to disrupt New Year celebrations after local residents came out strongly in support of the year-end festivities.

The Goa Movement Against SEZs (GMAS), which had called upon the tourists to leave Goa before December 28, quietly backed down even as a record number of tourists are beginning to trickle in.

Few hotel rooms are still vacant and even small cottages that rent rooms to tourists have put up house-full boards. A few luxury hotels like the Marriott in Panaji have hiked rentals on the New Year’s eve to Rs 3 lakh per night for its most expensive suites that face the sea. Fransisco Martins, Goa’s well known event manager, told The Sunday Express that he was arranging three parties on December 31.

Residents along the Goa’s beach belt who are closely involved with the tourism industry have also come out strongly against the proposal to boycott the New Year celebrations. After protests by major hotel owners in the state, the BJP which was backing the protests has also backed down. “We have extended the deadline for protests to January 1 so that the New Year celebrations can go on peacefully,” Leader of Opposition in Goa Assembly Manohar Parrikar said.

According to estimates put out by the tourism industry, Goa will see more than five lakh tourists for the whole of December. Most of them arrive between Christmas and the New Year, which is the super-peak season for tourism here. The protesters are opposed to Goa allowing a large number of SEZs in the state. So far, three SEZs spread over 619 acres have been allowed while another eight SEZs spread over 1,917 acres are awaiting approval.