PANAJI
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on Tuesday said Air India which had discontinued direct flights from Mopa to Gatwick, London will restore the operations by September-end.
"The direct flights to Gatwick were stopped for some technical reasons. We have got in touch with Air India and they have said that they will restore these flights by September-end," Khaunte said in the Goa legislative assembly while replying to the discussion on the demands for grants for the Tourism Department.
Khaunte was responding to claims made by several Opposition legislators and also some from the treasury benches that international airline connectivity was poor which was one of the reasons for the poor numbers of foreign tourists visiting the State.
Khaunte said the government had reached out to Air India which was operating these flights and they have assured that the direct flights to London will recommence in September.
Speaking further on the tourism sector, Khaunte admitted that connectivity was crucial.
“Connectivity, not Visa-on-Arrival, is the real game changer," Khaunte said, adding that better connectivity is needed first to truly transform the sector.
He also said, that Goa is the first State in the country to launch "regenerative tourism" with the ‘Goa Beyond Beaches’ initiative as its corner stone.
He said the model is based on people, economy and the environment and is focussed on attracting quality over quantity.
"Tourism contributes 17% to Goa’s GDP and provides 40% of the State’s employment”, Khaunte said, adding that this year from January to June Goa has recorded 8.4% growth in tourism with 5.45 million visitors of which 5.18 million were domestic and 0.27 million were international tourists.
He dismissed claims made by Opposition MLAs of a drop in tourism, saying figures speak for themselves which show that Goa has surpassed its pre-Covid numbers.
Meanwhile, referring to local cultural festivals being promoted by the Tourism Department, Khaunte said, Siolim will be promoted as a permanent venue for the traditional Sao Joao festival.
He also said that the World Tourism Day will be celebrated in September and events will be held throughout the month across Goa.
A tourism helpline "1364" is also operation which serves as a single point contact for tourists in distress and if they have to raise any concerns or if they want any information, he added.
