PANAJI
With most resigned to the inevitable impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on Goa's tourism, business leaders here are seemingly eyeing a share of the business from high-spend destination weddings and corporate conferences to make up for the expected losses this season.
Gaurish Dhond, who formerly headed the Travel and Toursim Association of Goa (TTAG) and is now the president of All Goa Hotel and Restaurant Owners Association said on Saturday that weddings and corporate conferences are an obvious choice businesses will have to make to tide over the inevitable impact.
Nationals from Russia and other Balkan States including Ukraine account for nearly 80 per cent of annual foreign tourist arrivals in Goa.
TTAG chief, Nilesh Shah, also admitted that this inflow of tourist traffic will unarguably be badly affected due to the ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Shah said, relying on the domestic tourist inflow alone cannot sustain the industry and an ideal quotient of foreign tourist arrivals is essential for the industry, particularly for the organised sector comprising the starred hotels.
Recent economic surveys project the contribution of tourism to the State's gross domestic product at almost 50 per cent and the charter flights bringing in foreign tourists is crucial.
However, the conflict is expected to drastically impact footfalls from all European countries including the United Kingdom as it will have a direct impact on aviation and raise travelling costs.
