VASCO
The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa on Sunday said that domestic cruise liner Angriya plying between Goa and Mumbai was beneficial for Goa’s tourism industry as it would bring in more domestic tourists to the State.
Speaking to the media, President TTAG, Savio Messias, welcomed the decision of introducing the domestic luxury cruise liner between Goa and Mumbai. Observing that the cruise liner was a boon to Goa, Messias appealed to all stakeholders, including taxi operators, to make the most and use it to their advantage.
Messias warned that exorbitant rates charged by taxi operators to domestic passengers arriving on Angriya could send a wrong picture. “It is definitely a good initiative because today travellers have an option of coming by sea to Goa. It is a gift as one can come for a holiday and at the same time do a cruise. I am being told that the group which arrived in the State was a wedding group so this is a good option. It will be a big boost for tourism.”
He said he had been informed that some taxi operators were unhappy that they are not getting enough business.
“In this situation, taxi operators have to be competitive and accommodative in such a situation. They cannot just charge big rates. People are taking risks today. Even the ship owner has taken a big risk to start this venture. If a taxi is going to charge like say 50 per cent of the cruise cost for a domestic passenger then what is the use. You might as well come by air. Taxi drivers could destroy the cruise business if they begin charging huge rates,” added Messias.
