TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: As another tourism season is on the horizon, new Russia tour operators are initiating tie-ups with travel agents in Goa which may result in a 30 per cent rise in Russian tourists in Goa from mid October.
The possibility of a Syrian war is also likely to add to the numbers as tour operators in Russia are dissuading their citizens from proceeding to Egypt, with the result that more Russians may come to Goa.
While Goa tourism is expecting charters tourists and international visitors from other markets to come, it appears that visitors from Russia will top arrivals for yet another season.
The Chief Operating Manager for SITA Ernest Dias told Herald, “There is one charter company we are dealing with which will be sending two flights a day from Russia from October 15 as against one flight previously.”
Dias said that new operators are tying up with agents in Goa and many such new contracts will result in a surge of Russian tourists to Goa.
This latest trend has however resulted in tour and travel agents in Goa facing the problem of shortage of rooms for charter tourist arrivals especially during the festive seasons.
“With the domestic business also doing well we are concerned about the accommodation scenario,” Dias said.
Besides SITA, a few more travel agents in Goa are also reported to have tie ups with new tour operators in Russia that could bring large number of Russians to Goa this season.
In fact, one leading tour and travel agent in Panjim has pointed out that websites in Russia are promoting small rooms, huts and studio apartments on rent.
“This is also a matter of concern for us as this is surely unauthorised,” said one agent in Goa.
Savio Messias, a hotelier and member of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa said, “From the industry point of view we welcome growth in business but there is also need to be careful that in the long run Goa is not projected as a destination for Russians.”
Messias pointed out that almost 70 per cent of Goa tourism’s foreign market is dominated by Russians.
He also feared that huge competition to lure Russians to Goa would also have adverse effects on the industry in Goa as hotels would also be squeezed to give discounts to meet the stiff competition. Messias said that as new operators were stepping in and competition increasing, this would have some adverse impact on the ensuing season.
