PANAJI
India may be open for international tourism by October 15, Union Minister of State for Tourism Shripad Naik said on Saturday.
The announcement is likely to bring cheer to Goa’s travel and tourism sector, which has been urging the state and central governments to open up the country for inbound international tourists, in a bid to kickstart the tourism economy.
Naik also said that the central government would be making an announcement related to the opening up of the tourism sector soon.
“As Corona decreases, we will start national and international tourism. The announcement will be made soon and there is a possibility of it beginning after October 15,” The Union MoS for Tourism told reporters on the sidelines of a Gandhi Jayanti event at Old Goa.
Naik has also said that the central government was examining requests for permitting international charter flights to operate in the country.
“International flights have started and we have requested for charter flights to resume by a particular date so that people can book trips to India and nowhere else,” Naik said.
International tourists who visit Goa by charter flights especially from Russia, United Kingdom and Germany account for the bulk of foreign tourist traffic to Goa.
Over the last couple of months, ever since Covid cases in Goa dipped considerably, the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant have written to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs urging the ministry to allow charter flights to land and take off at the state’s Dabolim international airport in a bid to boost tourism economy in the state.
