Team Herald
MARGAO: Tourism stakeholders in the State and Goans residing in Oman are upset with Oman Air’s decision to shift flights from Dabolim Airport to the newly constructed Greenfield International Airport at Mopa from January 1, 2023.
The move by the Middle East-based carrier is a major blow to continuation of Dabolim as an international airport, which has left tourism stakeholders in the State worried. They fear this is just the beginning of the end of international flights at Dabolim airport and raised apprehensions that in the future Dabolim airport could shut operations altogether once the Mopa airport is made fully-functional.
It may be recalled that the airlines in a communication released to its frequent fliers had said that all Oman Air flights arriving and departing from Goa will operate from the new Mopa International Airport from January 1, 2023.
“Dear Guest, beginning 1 January 2023, all Oman Air Flights arriving to and departing from Goa will operate out of the new Mopa International Airport (GOX). Oman Air flights will no longer operate from Goa International Airport (GOI),” the message stated.
Herald spoke to several people to seek their views on Oman Air’s decision.
“My family travels from Muscat to Goa often. How much would we have to pay for the taxi service to come to South Goa? We are not tourists but locals and will have to pay high rates. My children were to travel separately and are used to travelling from Dabolim. I am worried about that too and so we postponed our scheduled trip and would prefer coming to Dabolim directly,” said Raymond Fernandes, a businessman from Quepem.
“The authorities are treating this issue very casually when the consequences will be catastrophic to those in South Goa who depend on tourists visiting the Dabolim airport. The airport has been catering to tourists visiting the South for years. They would go to the North too as Dabolim had a central location but once it is in Mopa, most tourists will choose to stay in the North only,” said Paulito D’Souza, a travel and tourism agent from Colva.
Sagar Keni, a taxi owner from Vasco said, “The government misled us into believing that Mopa airport is for cargo and that it will be a logistics hub.”
Keni said, “In reality it will lead to the shifting of airlines like Oman Air to Mopa from Dabolim.”
It takes one airline to start the trend. There should have been guarantees against this. Will the airport survive like this in a few years? What about tourism businesses in the South?” Sagar Keni, a taxi owner from Vasco questioned.
“The government must immediately stop other airlines from doing what Oman Air has done. If the government says only domestic flights from Dabolim, it will be the death knell for the airport and the tourism sector in South Goa. We need international tourists this side – be it quality or quantity. Places further down South in particular will be the worst affected,” said Avit Dessai, a restaurateur from Canacona.
