After being caged in their houses for two years due to COVID-19, people are now desperate to go out with the easing of travel restrictions. However, there are some pending issues for international travel that needs to be sorted out. Till then, Goans are happy exploring destinations within the country.
They are preferring the cool climes of north India, with Kashmir on the top of the list, followed by Himachal Pradesh and other destinations.
“On March 27 international flights will start operating. Once that happens, the countries will open up and international travel will pick up. Currently Thailand, Sri Lanka, Maldives have opened up. More will open up,” President Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), Nilesh Shah said that there is more preference for domestic destinations right now. Foreign travel is yet to pick up.
“Once the international flights resume, we will know the trends for foreign travel. To begin with, traffic will increase of those persons who have been stranded all this while abroad and longing to return home or families of NRIs desperate to meet their kin whom they haven’t been able to see in last two years. Gradually, leisure travel will also pick up,” Shah said.
Right now, Dubai is doing well as visa restrictions have been eased. But that is not the case with many western countries, especially in Europe. But now news of COVID resurgence in China once again is fuelling fear. This could have a bearing on foreign travel.
“For next five months we are expecting more domestic travel considering the prevailing situation. North India is a very favoured destination. Kashmir and Leh-Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh (Shimla, Dalhousie and Kulu Manali), Uttarakhand (Nainital and Dehradun) are some favoured destinations for Goans,” the TTAG president said.
Chairman of Travel and Tourism Association of India (TTAI), Goa chapter, Harish Dharwadkar said Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are preferred within the country. Earlier Rajasthan was also on the travel list of Goans.
“Now the flights are going full. Dubai was always a preferred foreign destination for travel. Once the international flights start, we expect to see traffic for UK. Traditionally the TTAI used to have our annual convention in Thailand, which did not happen due to COVID in last two years. This year, the Sri Lanka Tourism has invited us to have the convention there. It is going to be a very big event. We are going to share our business plans with the Sri Lankan travel agents. We are very much looking forward for this event,” he said.
President and Country Head, Holidays, MICE, Visa – Thomas Cook (India) Limited, Rajeev Kale said, “In Goa we have witnessed a strong resurgence in travel demand with brisk business to international short haul favourites like Maldives, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Thailand, Singapore, Nepal and Dubai-Abu Dhabi for the last month of Expo 2020.”
Additionally, long haul favourites for our customers from Goa include Switzerland, France, Italy, Austria, Spain, Portugal, UK, Turkey, Egypt, Australia and USA for Visa holding customers. The recent positive announcements and easing of restrictions is serving well to fuel consumer sentiment and demand for travel
“Goans are displaying keen appetite to explore India – with destinations such as Kashmir, Himachal, Andaman, North-East, Rajasthan and Kerala seeing strong demand. Goans are interested in discovering India’s hidden gems and travellers secrets: eclectic/unique accommodation like tea estates/coffee plantations, tree tops, heritage stays, palaces, forts or in the heart of a desert or bamboo grove are seeing growing interest,” Kale said.
Secretary TTAI, Goa chapter Valingo Dias however said fear remains the biggest impediment for travelling abroad.
“UK has taken some measures to reduce the sense of fear like doing away with masks. Other countries like India also should take measures to put the people at ease,” Dias said.
