PANAJI
With the start of the tourist season, Goa is getting increasing footfalls and tourists are seen visiting popular spots in the State. A charter plane from Kazakhstan landed last week and three charter planes from Russia will be coming to Goa in the first week of November, and one also from England in the same period. Stating this, the Travel and Tourism Association (TTAG) of Goa Nilesh Shah expressed hope that November will bring in more tourist inflow from abroad.Pointing out that the tourist inflow in the State had impacted and slowed down due to Covid-19 for the past two years, the TTAG president reasoned that this was due to the strict pandemic-related rules in foreign countries. Foreign tourists preferred not to travel during this period and hence tourism activities slowed down all over. The Russia-Ukraine war too had its impact on tourism. However, now foreign tourists are coming to Goa, and per week one plane will fly down to Goa from Kazakhstan. A sizable number of tourists are looking forward to coming to India from Russia. And if e-visa is granted in England, four charter planes can come to Goa per week, claimed Shah.
During the months of November and December, more foreign tourists will come to Goa. During the current Diwali vacation, domestic tourists have flocked to Goa for vacation. Again in December, domestic tourists will come along with foreign tourists. The five-star hotels in Goa are 80-90% occupied, and this will go to 100% in the next month, hoped Shah.
