The 2018-19 tourist season is set to commence from Thursday when the first chartered flight from Russia lands at around 5 am. Hundreds of passengers flew out from Russia on Wednesday night with another slot reserved for next week.
The first three weeks of the month will see a chartered flight per week followed by an increase in arrivals from month-end. Speaking to Herald, Airport Director BCH Negi said 17 flights will arrive from different regions in October. With Tourism Department granting an early provisional license to 350-odd shack operators, many have already set up temporary structures along the beach belt. The State, however, has major competition this year as well from countries like Egypt and Turkey that attract travellers with cheaper holiday packages. The fall of currency and ban on tourists in these two places was lifted over a year ago. Goa, as in the previous years is banking on its conventional visitors from Russia and the UK, even as domestic holiday-makers have also given a boost to the tourism industry.
According to Tourism Department’s website, 808 chartered flights carrying 2.15 lakh visitors arrived in Goa during the last tourist season, while the preceding season saw 988 chartered flights and 2.32 lakh foreigners.
