Team Herald
PANJIM: As the tourism season kickstarts, the Goa government is optimistic that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will grant permission for charter landings in the State.
Responding to the question on international tourist arrivals, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said he has taken up the matter of international air travel for tourism purposes with MHA. “I am confident that MHA will take a call on it as soon as possible,” he said.
Herald had reported that British charters will not be flying to the State this season owing to a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases. If the situation prevails, stakeholders apprehend that Russian charter tourists might also cancel travel plant to Goa and instead go to other countries.
TUI Airways, the only company bringing in UK tourists to Goa, has decided to cancel holidays from the country of origin, at least till mid-December 2020.
Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) is also following up with the State government for a request to MHA to allow State to operate an air bubble for tourism specific purpose from Russia and UK.
TTAG president Nilesh Shah had said that he had approached the Ministry of Civil Aviation. “But unfortunately, the Government of India has not taken a final decision on opening of airports and allowing free flow of international flights,” he had said.
