Vasco: Providing much relief to the beleaguered tourism industry in Goa, which is reeling from the fall out of the Thomas Cook UK collapse, the British Charter TUI Airways, is likely to get permission from the Navy to land in Goa on the Saturday morning slot.
Earlier, the issuance of NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) by the Navy, which meant there would be restrictions at Dabolim Airport, had led to fears that British TUI Airways would cancel its charter as it unable to land at its preferred timing slot.
“The order pertaining to allow British TUI Airways charter flight will be issued to the satisfaction of the TTAG (Travel and Tourism Association of Goa) by Monday, which will solve the problem and the charter will be able to land in Goa” said Transport Minister of Goa Mauvin Godinho.
Godinho, who is also the Dabolim MLA, stated that the Navy had initially put up restrictions, from Saturday morning, wherein a six-hour-long Notam was issued, which meant, the British Charter TUI Airways, would not have been able to land in Goa on the Saturday morning slot, which was a must for the airlines.
“We don’t want to lose more tourists, especially after Thomas Cook UK collapse, which has impacted tourism in Goa, “added Godinho, while speaking about how the industry is dependent on a high volume of British tourist arrivals.
He pointed out that TUI Airways was worried that they will have to cancel their flights due to the issuance of NOTAM, restricting flights operations at Dabolim airport for six hours during the weekend on every Saturday in between 8.30 am and 12.30 pm, starting from November 2 for carrying the maintenance work of the runway.
“The Indian Navy authorities have informed me that the order pertaining to allow British TUI Airways charter flight will be issued to the satisfaction of the TTAG by Monday and this problem will be resolved and the charter will be able to land in Goa” said Godinho.
A TTAG official had opined that if the TUI Airways flight was cancelled, the entire tourism season would have been affected and then the State government would have lost crores of rupees in GST.
The official had further pointed out, that this particular charter brings good customers with higher spending capacity to the State. “We are also behind government authorities to grant more slots to TUI Airlines. Efforts are being made to meet and talk to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho and others,” said the official.
