AIRLINES
>> Rossiya Airlines
AIRCRAFT
>> Jumbo Boeing 747
PASSENGERS
>> 522, including crew
TOUCH DOWN
>> Dabolim airport @ 5pm
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WARM RECEPTION
>> At the arrival terminal of the airport, GTDC had made arrangements to welcome the tourists the Goan traditional way, with with a traditional brass band.>> The Russian tourists who arrived at Dabolim Airport seemed to enjoy the traditional Goan brass band and many were found grooving to the music
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We are delighted that the number of direct flights from Russia to Goa are increasing and each flight will bring in good number of passengers----------------------------------------------------
- Manohar Ajgaonkar
VASCO: The charter tourism season in the State kicked off on Thursday, when a Jumbo Boeing 747 flight of Rossiya Airlines carrying 522 passengers, including crew, arrived at Dabolim Airport from Russia at 5 am.
Officials from Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) and the tourism department had organised a special welcome for the Russian passengers who arrived by the first chartered flight.
The arriving tourists were given roses upon arrival and sweets were distributed at the reception terminal of the airport.
At the arrival terminal of the airport, GTDC had made arrangements to welcome the tourists the Goan traditional way, with with a traditional brass band.
The Russian tour operators, Biblio Globus and Concord Exotic Voyages (I) Pvt Ltd (CEVIPL) had made arrangements of Russian representatives to assist in translation for the arriving tourists.
The Russian tourists who arrived at Dabolim Airport seemed to enjoy the traditional Goan brass band and many were found grooving to the music and taking selfies at the airport.
CEVIPL had also made coach arrangements to take these passengers to various destination of their choices.
Speaking to the media, CEVIPL Vice President Ismail Sheik said CEVIPL was always the ones to get the first chartered flight to Goa.
"The environment is great and we can expect a lot of Russian tourists this year to arrive in Goa. We are soon expecting a lot of tourists from all over to visit Goa and the season looks promising,"said Sheik.
Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar welcomed the first chartered flight from Russia to Goa.
“We are delighted that the number of direct flights from Russia to Goa are increasing and each flight will bring in good number of passengers. The safety and security of tourists will always be given top priority and I am sure that they will definitely have an exciting holiday this tourism season,” said the minister.
