Goa entertains droves of Russian tourists

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2008-11-19
PANAJI- Increase in the number of Russian tourists arriving in the state over the years and expectation of a further increase in their arrival has prompted Goa’s tourism industry to rise to the occasion and cater to their needs.
A senior official in the state tourism sector told The Navhind Times that some hoteliers have appointed chefs specialising in Russian delicacies to cater to the Russian tourists. He, however, went on to add that the Russians enjoy the Continental dishes as well, besides their own dishes.
The tourism industry official further pointed out that the Russians are not fussy over the food and that a lot of them try out the local dishes also. Most of them prefer to pass their time on the beaches enjoying drinks, he added.
The Russians are spread out all over the state said another senior person in the tourism industry adding that hoteliers all over the state get a fair share of the Russian charter tourists to Goa. A large number of Russian tourists prefer to enjoy Old Monk Rum, said the official adding that they also enjoy their own drink – Vodka.
According to sources in the tourism industry, the Russians prefer to purchase clothes and agarbatthis (incense sticks), etc and carry them in large quantities on their way back home. He went on to add that the Russians have expressed happiness over the hospitality extended to them by the local tourism industry.
The sources said the concerted efforts by the tourism department and the Travel and tourism Association of Goa to attract the Russian tourists have paid off with them coming to the state in hordes by charter flights ever since they first arrived here in smaller numbers a few years ago.
As against a figure of around 41,000 Russians who came through 152 charters last year, the state’s tourism industry is expecting the figure of Russian tourists arriving through charters to rise by about 10-15 per cent this year.
Meanwhile, the tourism industry is apprehensive of the ban on sale of liquor imposed by the Election Commission in view the by-elections to the Pale constituency, later this month. The captains of tourism industry feel that the ban, which extends to several days, would adversely the tourists and the industry.