Thomas Cook has
collapsed after last-minute negotiations
aimed at saving the 178-year-old holiday firm failed. This was news that
chilled the bones of hoteliers, restauranteurs, companies that hire taxis and
bikes in the state. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) revealed the tour
operator had “ceased trading with immediate effect”. This move is expected to
put around 22,000 jobs at risk worldwide, including 9,000 in the UK.
For now, Thomas Cook’s Indian, Chinese, German and Nordic subsidiaries
will continue to trade as normal. Savio Messias, President, TTAG, said, “Thomas
Cook has been coming to Goa for thirty years. It was an airline that Goa
depended on a lot. The British community used that airline. The British
community was liked by everyone. They would fly in every day; that was around
300 seats a day, which works out to around 2100 seats a week. They came on an
average stay of 14 nights. The numbers are staggering. The drop in revenue and
GST collection will be staggering.” He revealed that they were exploring other
alternatives because tickets were booked. They were talking to other airlines.
He did not want to mention the airlines but he revealed they were also looking
at other charter operators to take over. Meetings were scheduled on Tuesday and
he said they were looking to the government for support. This was needed
because discussions would have to take place at the highest level and approvals
had to be taken. Savio said they would be meeting the tourism Secretary in
Panjim shortly to push forward their case.
Aloo Gomes Pereira,
COO, Trail Blazers Tours India Pvt Ltd, said the worst had happened and this
would mean a hit of tens of thousands of tourists. He said the state would
easily lose around 80,000 room nights in the season due to this drop. There was
also a substantial number that booked flats, who would not be coming now. The
economy in the state, he said, would be hit. It was important, he felt, for the
government to step in and talk to Qatar Airways, Emirates Airlines to encourage
them to bring these passengers in. This, he conceded, would have to happen only
at the centre.
Individual
taxi drivers who earned a substantial sum every season driving British tourists
around felt it could result in a dramatic drop in their earning. Abdul Majid
said, “I used to be hired for the entire day by the British tourists and I
would work out a decent rate. It would be good for both of us. Now with that
gone, it is going to be a long hard season ahead.”
