VASCO: The first charter flight of the tourist season arrived at the Dabolim international airport from Kazakhstan on Wednesday morning bringing along 182 passengers.
The passengers were accorded a grand welcome with a traditional Goan brass band and roses. This is the first charter flight to arrive in Goa after a gap of two years due to the Covid pandemic thereby heralding the start of the international tourist season in the State.
The first charter flight Scat Airways arrived from Almaty with 182 tourists from Kazakhstan on board.
Protocol Minister Mauvin Godinho was present at the airport to receive the tourists. Goa Airport Director Dhanamjaya Rao, GTDC officials were also present.
Expressing his happiness at the arrival of the first charter, Godinho said Goa is a brand by itself and the most-preferred tourist destination. He said post pandemic many people want to travel to Goa making it the most favourite travel destination and disclosed that by November, flights will start coming from Russia and UK as well.
Godinho said the government is trying to sort out issues of eVisa to ensure arrival of more international charter flights to the State.
Managing Director of Concord Exotic Voyages James Kodianthara said all stakeholders were excited to have a charter flight coming in after a gap amidst the pandemic.
He said the airlines from Kazakhstan and Moscow will operate around four to five flights a week and around 120 flights are expected this season.
Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) president Nilesh Shah said in the coming days, three charter flights will be arriving from Russia and one each from the UK and Kazakhstan every week.
“Daily charter flights will start arriving from December 17, ahead of New Year celebrations,” he said adding that more tourists will arrive if the visa restrictions imposed by the Government of India on UK travellers are relaxed.
