PANJIM: After topping the foreign tourist arrivals in Goa for the last two seasons, the prospect of Russian tourists declining this season has evoked mixed response from stakeholders who are keeping their fingers crossed and hoping for the best.
The Travel and Tourism Association in Goa (TTAG) concedes that the possible drop in Russian arrivals will impact the industry – albeit slightly. “It is definitely going to affect footfalls in Goa. There will be a small impact but we need to tap other markets because concentrating on one country could prove dangerous…,” TTAG Vice President Savio Messias told Herald. He also predicted that charter flights could fall even more than 20 percent. “But let us wait and watch…” he hastened to add.
About 1.62 lakh Russian tourists arrived in Goa in 2013 compared to approximately 1.45 lakh tourists from Britain. In 2012 around 1.40 lakh Russians arrived in Goa, compared to 1.98 British arrivals.
At a press interaction on Friday, the head of Russian Information Centre in Goa Ekaterina Belyakova had said that they anticipated 15 to 20 percent fall in Russian charters owing to economic recession and the crisis in Ukraine. But the free independent travellers are likely to increase. However, the Russian consular office in Goa is hopeful that the tourists would still come in large numbers despite the difficulties the country is facing.
“If international conditions remain stable, this season we are expecting around 1.30 lakh tourists from Russia to Goa and about 900 charter flights as well as regular flights,” Russian Federation Consulate’s Goa representative Vikram Verma told Herald.
“The Ukraine crisis has certainly affected the travel plans with Russians planning a vacation to European destinations. However, with ties between India and Russia still very strong, we feel that some cancellations of Goa as a destination would be countered by the other Russians who would visit Goa instead of Europe,” he said.
TTAG former President Ralph D’Souza, speaking about another issue that cropped up over charter tourists — the taxi driver fuelled violence — opined that law should not be taken in one’s own hands as negative image of the State could impact tourism. “We have to see that whatever business is carried out, it is in regulated manner and within the law… A wrong incident always hits international headlines and we need to avoid that…” he said.
Belyakova also told media that it was up to the local government to crack down on law breakers – both from among locals and Russian too.
The season also brings in business for tourist taxis even though the hiring of two-wheelers from bike rental agencies has also taken off as a business. This business group, claiming that a certain section of foreign nationals prefer being driven around by booking cabs, mention they won’t feel the pinch as their passengers hail from other countries, whose arrivals have unfortunately also declined.
“Russians prefer our service for short distances… But drop in other European clients has tremendously affected our business. Tourists from Denmark, Sweden, Germany and English (British) have seen a drastic decline. They obtained our service to drive within the State and out of Goa also,” Vice President of North Goa Tourist Taxi Association Rabindra Vengurlekar stated. The Association has suggested that government should not concentrate only on Russians but also tap tourists from other countries.
