PANAJI
After a glut in international tourist traffic due to the pandemic, Goa may well enjoy a spell in winter sun this tourist season, especially with the central government permitting international tourists to visit the country from November 15.
While Chief Minister Pramod Sawant claims that the upcoming tourist season will be a good one, travel and industry stakeholders in the state are also optimistic about the inbound foreign tourist forecast.
"International flights will resume from November 15. Definitely, tourist season for Goa will be good this year," Sawant said on Saturday.
Earlier this week, the central government announced that foreign tourists travelling to India by international charter flights would be given visas from October 15, while foreign tourists using regular international flights could arrive in India from November 15. Five lakh foreign tourists would also be provided with free visas, the central government has also announced.
The opening up of India's airports to international tourists, especially the bit related to charter flights is expected to bring good tidings to Goa, an inbound tourism market which has had a healthy tryst with international charter tourism through the last several decades.
The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa is keen on tapping this opportunity.
"Goa makes up 92 percent of the charter flight arrivals in the country and the announcement ahead of the season will allow us to plan in advance and allow charter companies to book slots at the Goa airport,” president of the Association Nilesh Shah said.
The Association has been lobbying with the state as well as central governments to allow international charter flights to operate in Goa, a move which Shah has maintained would help kickstart Goa's international tourism economy, which has banked on charter flights.
"The decision will benefit every tourism stakeholder from the charter operator to small and medium hotel owners and everyone in between. We are grateful for this," Shah also said.
