TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: To get more direct flights to Goa and augment flow of overseas tourists during the next tourist season, the Tourism industry has urged Narendra Modi-led government to adopt ‘open skies policy.’
The policy will liberalize Dabolim airport to allow foreign carriers to touch down directly at Goa bringing in more tourists. In a letter to Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge) Shripad Naik, Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) President Francis Braganza said that many international airlines are trying to get this permission but out-dated bilateral agreement has been an obstruction.
“The Aviation Ministry rejects all proposals on the ground that the concerned airline has exhausted its quota under the bilateral agreements. These bilateral agreements are outdated and the entire world has moved to open skies policy. Emirates, Etihad, Singapore Airlines, etc are desperate to land in Goa,” reads the letter requesting the minister to take up the matter with Civil Aviation Ministry. Braganza insisted that since tourism is airline driven, arrival of more flights to Goa will boost inflow of tourists.
Naik, who is North Goa MP, chaired the task force meeting last week that was attended by the tourism officials and all stakeholders. Several decisions were taken wherein State has also proposed new projects.
The TTAG chief also urged the Tourism Ministry to convene an urgent meeting of the Charter Operators in Goa, Airport Authority of India, Defence and Goa government to solve the issue of flights’ landing timings. “Because of the re-tarring the air strip at Dabolim, the airport remains closed and this discourages many charters and scheduled airlines to land here. They have decided to cancel their flights to Goa in the next season. We need to take these airlines into confidence and try and sort out the issues faced by them. This is a serious matter that will affect the hospitality industry,” he said.
Moreover, TTAG has requested for proper maintenance of the new airport terminal at Dabolim. “It is disappointing in terms of cleanliness, passenger facilities and operational convenience. The arrangements are pathetic. The trade needs to be consulted and taken seriously,” he alleged adding that the terminus, though incomplete was hurriedly inaugurated.
“The State has also expressed the need to connect Goa to the Golden Triangle of Agra, Delhi, Jaipur through domestic charter tourism as an extension to the inbound Charter tourism. ‘Domestic Charters need to be permitted,” the letter mentions.
The stakeholders have also requested relaxation of coastal regulation zone regulations by reducing no development zone along rivers upto 50 meters. “Reducing NDZ facing the sea will also encourage Tourism industry,” he said.
TTAG LETTER TO MOS FOR TOURISM SHRIPAD SAYS
l Policy will liberalize Dabolim airport to allow foreign carriers to touch down directly at Goa
l Emirates, Etihad, Singapore Airlines, etc are desperate to land in Goa but cannot since bilateral agreements are outdated
l To convene an urgent meeting of the Charter Operators in Goa, Airport Authority of India, Defence and Goa government to solve the issue of flights’ landing timings
l To connect Goa to the Golden Triangle of Agra, Delhi, Jaipur through domestic charter tourism as an extension to the inbound Charter tourism
