Goa’s sluggish hospitality industry is awash with relief following the Union ministry of home affairs’ (MHA) Thursday announcement that it would begin granting fresh tourists visas to foreigners visiting India through chartered flights from October 15.The sunshine state contributes about 92% of India’s charter business as it receives 2-2.5 lakh charter tourists annually.
Over the past year, the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) had lobbied hard with various authorities for special permission for chartered flights to land in Goa. It had even submitted a memorandum to Union tourism minister G Kishan Reddy during his visit to the state two weeks ago, requesting that charter flights be allowed to restart.
TTAG president Nilesh Shah said he was jubilant to hear about the Centre’s announcement. “Opening of the charter market will help all tourism stakeholders; big and small. Even now, over 2,100 small hotels are yet to open,” he told TOI and added that the association is awaiting clarity on the process that will be followed to issue five lakh free visas, and the declaration of standard operating procedures (SOP) for international travellers.
While the first charter to Goa generally lands by the third week of October, chief operating officer at Sita Travels, Ernest Dias, said the first one of the current tourism season could possibly arrive in the first week of November from Russia.
“There are a lot of preparations to be made. We need to get (plane) parking slots, so we are looking at the first week of November for charter arrivals. Though it will be a month late, it is better than having nothing,” Dias said.
Charter tourism in Goa began in the 1970s, with the advent of the flower children. While their arrival spurred charters from the UK, Finland, Poland Germany and Norway, the influx of the Russians began from the 1990s. Up until the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, a majority of the charter tourists who had landed in Goa were from Russian destinations.
Besides, the state also receives charters from Kazakhstan and Ukraine.
The MHA has declared that non-charter foreign tourists will be able to travel to India from November 15. All Covid protocols notified by the Union ministry of health and family welfare have to be followed by foreign tourists and the carriers that will bring them into India. Goa receives a total of 8-9 lakh foreign tourists each year.
Source: Times of India ( https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/green-light-for-charters-gives-hope-for-goas-tourism-sector/articleshow/86853593.cms )
