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Goa is expecting 34% growth in charter flights this winter with rupee depreciation and crisis in Eygpt making Goa an attractive destination. The state received its first charter flight carrying 235 passengers from Russia on Sunday.
"We are expecting 1,400 flights this tourist season. About 70% of the flights are expected from Russia. Customs and Immigration department have increased their manpower to handle the extra flow of tourists till March. The visa on arrival scheme will be implemented in Goa from December end or January,'' said Goa airport director M Suresh. Last year Goa handled 1044 international charter flights.
" We are expecting 20% growth in tourist arrivals and seen a growth in bookings from Russia and CIS countries. The bookings from UK have been slow but are now picking up. The Russian tourists have taken advantage of fall in rupee. Also the crisis in Eygpt may have also led to an increase in bookings. An another interesting trend this year is that tourists arriving on charter flights are not restricting their trip to Goa and area touring to Delhi-Agra-Jaipur in 11-4 days,'' said Aloo Gomes Periera, chief operating officer (charters) of Trail Blazer Tours.
" Apart from Russia we have bookings from Sweden, Finland, UK and Kazakhstan. The crisis in Egypt will stimulate tourist arrivals in Goa. Infact the first group of charter tourists to Goa were flown in by Anex Tour a Russian operator promoting Egyptian holidays,'' said Ernest Dias, vice president (Goa) of Sita Travels, inbound division of Kuoni group.
Charter operators are also flying in bigger wide body planes which can carry more passengers. "For the first time, our partners TUI UK will be flying the Boeing Dreamliner 787 to Goa. TUI is the first British carrier to take delivery of this aircraft and Goa has been chosen as the first long-haul destination for the aircraft this winter. This aircraft has a capacity of 291 passengers including 47 premium class seats. They will fly twice a week to Goa enhancing the growth of business and tourism to Goa,'' said Arjun Sharma, managing director of Le Passage to India.
Data from the Goa's tourism department shows that the state received 4.50 lakh foreign tourists in 2012, a slight increase over 4.45 lakh foreign visitors in the previous year. Russians top the list with over 30% of all arrivals following by British (26%), Germany (7%).
Despite its popularity with foreign tourists the state does not make into the top ten recipients of visitors. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan top the list of states receiving highest foreign tourists in 2012.
Travel experts say one of the reasons for Goa's poor ranking is that it is a seasonal destination with most of the foreign tourists arriving between October-March. Also compared to other states it lacks international connectivity and Qatar Airways is the only foreign airline flying into the state. Other tourists who do not take charter flights fly in from Mumbai. Last year Virgin Atlantic Airlines said it was planning to start flights to Goa. Air India too is considering a Moscow-Delhi-Goa flight to cater to Russian tourists. "The government policy on group visas and visa on arrival scheme will help in boosting traffic to Goa,'' an expert said.
Foreign charter arrivals during winter season in Goa
2009-10 - 627
2010-11 - 856
2011-12 - 812
2012-13 - 1044
Source: Airport Authority of India, Goa
