Due to inaction by Govt, Goa loses out on more than 50 percent charter flights from Russia

PANAJI: Even as Egypt is making bookings or signing on at least two new charters every day from Russia (and other countries), for the current tourist season, industry experts and trade bodies opine India’s tourism capital Goa has already lost out on more than 50 percent of the charters from Russia this tourist season, primarily due to inaction by the State and Central Government.  ALSO READ: Five lakh tourists to be given free visas, tourism bizmen to get loans up to Rs 10 lakh: Modi

Trade bodies and industry experts both in the State and outside, lament and blame the lack of timely action by the Goa state government as the main reason for the loss of business.

The MD of one of Russia’s biggest charter flight tour operators to Goa said they were in regular touch with industry and trade bodies in the coastal state since June this year, but due to lack of interest by the State Government shifted all their bookings to Egypt, where package deals were much easier to come by.

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Tour operators, hotels, shacks and all other tourism-related businesses in Goa will have to live with one more tourist season this year without a huge inflow of charter flights and foreign tourists in the coastal, tourism-dependent state, as most of the charters from Russia and the UK have already been booked by other competing nations, with Egypt leading the pack.

Due to the Covid pandemic-induced financial restrains, the overall number of foreign tourists or tourists flying out on charters to warmer nations from the UK, Russia, Europe and Germany has reduced by 20 to 25 per cent.

The remaining tourists who have money to spend and opt for a holiday in a warmer destination have already booked their holiday in advance, thanks to the huge discounts offered by operators in countries like Egypt.

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Holiday planners in Goa offering package deals could do well to target domestic tourists, as this season too, and forget about the charter flights and busloads of foreign guests as they may be difficult to come by with charters skipping Goa and heading to Egypt.

With New Delhi yet to positively respond to air bubble-like arrangements and permissions for point to point direct charter flights with select nations like Russia, UK, Germany, etc., from where the bulk of foreign tourists visit Goa for long vacations, Goan businesses must prepare and be ready for another year without huge numbers of big-budget or premium foreign tourists.