26 Feb 2022  |   06:48am IST

Charter flights from Kazakhstan are now one per week due to Russia-Ukraine war

Tourism Director says the war will not only affect tourism trade but even the economy in Goa

Team Herald

PANJIM: The disastrous Russia-Ukraine war has reduced charter flights from Kazakhstan to one per week while it is expected tourism in Goa might witness impact if the war does not end in near future. 

Tourism Director Menino D’Souza on Friday said the Russia-Ukraine war will not only affect tourism trade but even the economy in Goa. 

“The disturbances between the two countries, even prior to the war, had led to cancellation of charter flights even prior to the war. Russians comprise major chunk of foreign tourist arrivals in Goa, if flights are cancelled, Tourism will be hit," said D’Souza on the sidelines of Indian Travel Mart in Panjim on Friday.

Herald spoke to the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) that admitted slow movement of charter flights. "We were getting three flights per week from Kazakhstan, which has been reduced to one per week. However, the charter from Russia is not affected so far. We continue to get one charter flight every 10 days but in future, due to the war, people might be reluctant to move out. Hence we could see some impact," said TTAG President Nilesh Shah.

While Goa was partially dependent on charters, owing to restrictions in air movement as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, domestic arrivals has saved tourism industry. Shah agreed that Goa has received overwhelming response from the Indian visitors. 

"Hotels have 80-90 per cent capacity. The flights are also running full,” said Shah. 

D’souza meanwhile said that the industry has made request to the govt to ease 50 per cent occupancy restriction for hotels, activities etc.