15% drop in foreign arrivals anticipated

by ABDUL RAUF BEIG
Posted on 2008-09-23
PANAJI- The upcoming tourism season may not augur well for the state tourism industry with at least 15 percent drop in arrival of foreign tourists and charters being projected by the industry, even as the first flight expected to land at the Dabolim airport from Russia on September 28 being deferred till mid-November.
According to information provided by Mr Ralph de Souza, president of Travel and Tourism Association of Goa only 635 flights from 800 slots booked by tour operators have been confirmed.
He said that the picture would become clearer only at the end of the month as the tour operators have got time till then to either confirm the arrival of flights or their cancellations. There were 758 charters last season.
The TTAG president also informed ‘The Navhind Times’ that there is about 25 per cent decline in the arrival of charter flights and tourists from Scandinavian countries and United Kingdom for various reasons. Sounding a bit optimistic, he however expressed hope that the situation could change as the season progresses.
He also said that 50 charters have been confirmed from Germany for the coming season, which was more or less the same number last season. The first flight from Germany would now be the first charter flight of the season and would land on October 8.
He went on to add that as in the previous season, 25 flights from Switzerland would be operated in the ensuing season.
Explaining the reasons for drop in tourists from United Kingdom, he said that on-line visa issuance system was proving to be cumbersome for many tourists, who have been repeat tourists, as the visa issuance was delayed.
He also said that advisory issued by United Kingdom government to its citizens not to travel to certain parts of India, though there was no Goa specific advisory, has come in way of many tourists’ arrival in the state.
Mr de Souza further said that in view of the advisory the insurance companies have hiked the premium as a result of which the cost of travel has been hiked and this has resulted in many tourist putting off their travel plans.
The TTAG chief further said that on the other hand there was 100 percent increase in the number of charter flights from Russia and East European countries as of today with more flights landing from Estonia, Lithuania and Poland. The first flight from Russia was expected to land on October 14.