the goan I network
PANAJI
Amidst all speculations about the upcoming tourist season, here is good news finally. The season’s first charter flight will arrive at Dabolim airport on October 4 from Moscow in Russia. The flight will bring 220 Russian tourists and reach Goa at 6.30 am in the morning.
Amar Dhumatkar, President, Goa charters at Caper Travel Pvt Ltd, said, “Yes, our company is bringing this season’s first charter flight from Moscow on October 4. In earlier seasons, we used to start bringing flights after October 16, but this year, we thought of bringing the flight early.”
Last season had prematurely ended in March itself as against the expectations that it would extend to April. Given that, it is a good move to bring charter flights from the first half of October itself because it gives an extra window of 15 days to bring foreign tourists.
“After October 16, we will bring nine charter flights per week from Russia and CIS countries to Goa. As per our estimates, we are likely to do same business this season as we did last season,” Dhumatkar added.
He further informed that arrangements were being made to welcome foreign tourists with the help of the Tourism Department as well. The fact that Russian tourists are arriving in Goa soon is going to be reassuring for the tourism industry in the State.
Previous week’s collapse of Thomas Cook in the UK had left tourism stakeholders worried. This is because Thomas Cook used to send British tourists to Goa every year through its scheduled flights. Obviously then the arrival of Russian tourists will dispel fears about the season.
