PANAJI
As opposed to concerns about a drop in the number of charter flights at the beginning of the tourism season, latest statistics show that Goa received much higher number of charter flights from October to December 2017 in the ongoing season compared to the same time period in the previous season.
Statistics with the tourism department show that 405 charter flights arrived in Goa from October to December 2017 as compared to 369 charter flights in the same period in the previous year.
These 405 charter flights brought 1,08,715 foreign tourists, which was 18.1% more than 92,020 tourists brought by charter flights in the same period previous year.
Of the 405 charter flights between October and December 2017, 301 flights arrived from Russia, 72 flights arrived from UK, 15 arrived from Kazakhstan, 13 arrived from Finland, 3 arrived from Iran and 1 arrived from Ukraine.
Not only does Russia contribute the most to the absolute number of charter flights, but its contribution to the percentage growth is also significant. The number of charter flights arriving from Russia posted a whopping growth of 31.4% in the three months from October to December 2017.
Going by the data for the initial months of this tourism season, it appears that the number of charter flights will grow at an appreciable rate for the overall season as well. Last season, a total of 988 charter flights arrived in Goa till May 14, 2017 bringing 2,32,679 tourists.
At the beginning of the current tourism season in October 2017, there was a lot of uncertainty because many charter flights were not allotted landing slots at Dabolim Airport. The tour operators were saying that the charter flights would move out of Goa market altogether, if the landing slots were not allotted. As a result, the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) had made several representations to the Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar. After Parrikar intervened, the matter was resolved and the landing slots were allotted at Dabolim Airport.
