PANJIM: Amidst speculation that Russian tourists to Goa could reduce in number this season and reports in certain media that Goa is out of Russia’s safe destination list, 42 charter flights from Russia landed at Dabolim airport – the highest from any nation so far. This was followed by 22 from Ukraine carrying approximately 12,678 overseas passengers.
As per the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), nearly 700 flights are expected this season, most of which are likely to arrive from Russia and Ukraine.
“During the entire season, we expect 8 to 10 charters from Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, around 10 from Poland, 125 flights from UK, around 12 from Finland and the balance from Russia and Ukraine,” TTAG spokesperson Ralph D’Souza told Herald.
TTAG, while objecting to false and misleading reports in certain sections of the media that Russians have struck off Goa from the list of safe destination, has reiterated that the Russian visitors need not be concerned of their safety here as the coastal State is one of the safest destinations.
GTDC MD Nikhil Desai too stated that Goa is one of the safest and most accessible destinations coupled with ease of obtaining visas. He asserted that Goa will witness a positive inflow of tourists owing to the geopolitical scenario in Egypt and Turkey.
“The hospitality industry and inbound tourism arrival trends clearly indicate a very positive tourism season ahead. Foreign inbound trends are very encouraging especially from key source markets like UK, Russia and CIS nations,” he said. He added, “Sweeping and unverified statements appearing in the media will only do more harm than good and unnecessarily complicate matters.”
The Russian inbound business, according to some leading tour operators in Goa, are looking good this year. “No Russian operator has heard of this so called ‘advisory’ which unfortunately has originated from Goa, rather than from Moscow,” Ernest Dias, Chief Operating Office of Sita Travels said.
Russians tourists, tour and travel operators have slammed the Russian Information Centre for tarnishing Goa’s image. According to a statement released on Monday, Ilya Morozov, Manager of one of the largest charter operators to Goa, Pegas denied any such communiqué from the Russian government or any advisory that India-Goa is not a safe destination. “In fact the season is looking very good and many Russian tourists are expected to be in Goa in the weeks to come,” Morozov said.
Diana Makarova of Anex Tourshas seconded the statement. Many Russian tourists also voiced their opinions against the dissemination of false data by RIC Goa. One of them even travelled to Panjim from Morjim to speak to tourism department officials.
“I am shocked to read the news in the newspapers that Goa is not a safe destination for Russians. On the contrary, India and Goa provide international tourists a very hospitable stay, safety and security like no other tourist destination,” said Mezhuieva Milena, a tourist.
According to Tourism Department, Goa has been seeing a surge in foreign tourist arrivals especially from Russia utilizing the E Tourist Visa (ETV) facility.
Data reveals that on an average between 200 to 400 ETVs are issued to Russian tourists daily. Since the inception of the ETV regime 31,962 ETVs have been issued of which 17,376 have been availed by Russian tourists.
