PANJIM, APRIL 21
In wake of the air traffic to the European countries literally coming to a standstill, the Tourism Department has written to Union Home ministry to extend visas of few of the tourists.
Tourism director Swapnil Naik told Herald this evening that around 150 tourists met him and they were apprehensive that the police might arrest them for staying in the State with expired visa.
“We have written to ministry of Home Affairs to extend their visas,” he said.
Naik also said that the communication is also made to state police department informing them about the situation prevailing due to cancellation of flights to European destinations.
“State police have no powers to extend visas but we have kept them informed. There are many who were about to leave the State when air traffic ceased”, Naik said.
Naik further said that one airline Air Arabia has offered flights to Istanbul, which has train link to European countries.
“From Istanbul it’s a 48-hr journey to Germany and other European countries”, he said.
Naik said that there are unconfirmed reports that some flights have started leaving from Mumbai.
State airport authorities also said that the situation has started easing since Tuesday with first flight to Scotland leaving the state last evening.
“A boeing 767 chartered flight left for Scotland from Goa at 7 pm carrying 259 passengers”, an airport source said.
