Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar on Friday has informed tourism stakeholders that the Goa government is taking corrective measures and will resolve the issue of slot allotment for charters at the Goa international airport, Dabolim.
PANAJI
On his arrival to Goa after attending the tourism trade fairs at Moscow and Paris, Ajgaonkar immediately met the Chief Minister
Manohar Parrikar and discussed the issues concerning restrictions for charter landings and slot allotment at the airport.
Later in a statement issued he said, "The chief minister has assured that all corrective
steps will be taken and issues will be resolved so that Goa has a good charter season this year."
"These timely measures will put to ease the anxiety and concerns raised by tourism stakeholders over the recent hurdles at the airport on slot allotment for charter flights which are scheduled to land in Goa for the season from October 1.
He further said, "Tourism stakeholders need not panic and should have faith in the government which is taking all initiatives towards improving tourism in the State and increasing foreign tourist footfalls to Goa."
The first charter flight for the season 2017-18 with 500 passengers from Russia is scheduled to land at the Goa airport on Sunday morning. Elaborate arrangements have been made by Goa Tourism to welcome the Russian visitors at the airport.
This year, Goa Tourism is expecting a good charter season and may cross the 1000 mark of charter flights which includes flights from Russia, UK and other European countries.
‘Charterers plan to withdraw if landing issue not resolved'
VASCO: The president of Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), Savio Messias, has said that charter flights have plans of withdrawing from Goa, if they are not alloted landing slots at Dabolim Airport. Messias said, "One British charter flight, which used to land on Sunday since 2014, had been upset and probably has plans of withdrawal from Goa."
Messais further said the trade and charter operators are facing problems, as Airport Authority of India (AAI) and Navy have reduced landing slots for the charter operators.
"Navy has closed the airport for charter flights on Saturday and Sunday besides reducing the number of slots. They have been telling charter flights to arrive at midnight, late night or early morning, causing inconvenience and if this problem continues 50 percent of the flights will be cancelled," said Messias.
Messias also said he has already forwarded to Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar, an email he had received from a charter company, which has plans of pulling out of Goa.
He also informed that many Russian agents have plans of pulling out of Goa, if landing slots issue is not resolved.
Messias also mentioned that on Thursday that there are many tourist destinations across the globe which are cheaper than Goa.
"Goa has become an expensive destination and with GST and cost of living in Goa going up, charters can be welcomed to various other countries until we do something quickly. Even the visa fees are high and we may need some incentives to get charters back to Goa," said Messias.
When asked if Mopa airport, which will be developing soon in Goa, could be of help in the tourism season in the future, he said, "If Goa starts losing charters and their trips keep declining, then by the time Mopa airport comes up in the next 2-3 years, we may not have foreign charters at all. We can't afford to wait so long."
