The charter flights originating from Riga will mark the opening of a new potential market. “The charter from Riga will ferry tourists from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. All three countries have a combined population of 10 million,” a statement issued by the Russian Information Centre, Goa says.
“The fact that tourists from these countries speak Russian and English is a healthy sign for tourism industry stakeholders in Goa. The reason why the fresh charter service from Latvia is significant is because it could mean a shot in the arm for the tourism business, which could face a slight decline in foreign tourist arrivals due to the financial crisis in Russia,” the statement says.
There are likely to be six charter flights from Latvia this season, each carrying 180 passengers.
“Approximately there are about 1000 tourists expected in Goa this season from these three countries. Latvian travel operators see the emergence of Goa as a destination with a long-term perspective and are keen on exploring ways to schedule one charter flight per week for the 2016-17 tourist season,” the statement says.
