TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: Travel and tour operators in Goa have expressed fears that the new terminal under construction at Dabolim airport is neither aircraft nor tourist friendly and have complained to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) that the new aero bridges are not suited for wide bodied charter aircrafts that sustain charter tourism in the State.
It has been pointed out that the charter companies which operate during the season do so through wide bodied aircrafts and necessary arrangements will have to be made for berthing of such aircrafts.
“From the looks of it, the new terminal will not be able to accommodate these wide bodied aircrafts at the aerobridges and will require them to be parked far out thereby causing difficulties to the tourists,” said a representation submitted to the Executive Director of Planning (AAI), Kalpana Shetty who was on a day long visit to Goa.
After an inspection of the new terminal building at Dabolim by tourism stakeholders in Goa it was felt that charter aircrafts may not be able to berth at the aerobridges and the charter tourists who are elderly will have to walk from the tarmac to the airport and thereafter proceed to the first floor for immigration.
The AAI has been urged to make necessary arrangements on the ground floor for providing services or alternatively to provide proper escalators which will facilitate tourists to complete arrival formalities.
It was also felt that there should be sufficient space for arrival and departure lounges and the number of shops provided therein need to be reduced.
The stakeholders stressed upon provision for parking of vehicles of tour operators including buses and coaches at a convenient location so that tourists are not required to walk long distances to reach the departure and arrival lounges.
A suggestion has been made for separate taxi counters for black and yellow taxis and tourist taxis at a distance from the arrival lounge.
‘That the drivers should not be allowed to loiter around the terminal and their taxis should be parked away from the terminal,’ has been strongly stressed upon. In addition, the AAI has been asked to ensure that steps be taken to see that taxi drivers remain seated in their respective taxis or taxi parking bays.
‘They should be called by queue system via radio and taxi drivers should not be at their respective counters within the airport,’ reads the representation to AAI. Likewise a request has been made for separate counters for private coaches and buses to sell their tickets at the airport arrival and departure lounges for transporting tourists to various destinations in Goa.
It also suggests airport entry passes for staff of tour operators to enable them to go up to immigration counters.
In the ensuing tourist season, the stakeholders impressed on the need for adequate and sufficient space to be provided for visa on arrival facility both on the ground and first floor with adequate provision for escalators.
The stakeholders also pointed out that there is no provision for a parking bay for private airlines and insisted on one as Goa is gradually becoming an up-market destination.
A tour operator speaking to Herald said, “The executive director (planning) of AAI has heard our views, concerns and suggestions and has agreed to look into them.”
However, the AAI has told tourism stakeholders that there is space constraint due to limitations of availability of land and it may be difficult to resolve some of the issues.
