Foreign tourist arrival likely to drop by 10%

by ABDUL RAUF BEIG
Posted on 2008-10-07
PANAJI- It is now certain that the number of charter flights to land at the Dabolim airport would be 50 less than the last year figure of 758, thus indicating that there would be at least 10 per cent overall fall in arrival of foreign tourists in the state in the current tourist season. According to sources in the tourism industry, a little over 700 charter flights have been confirmed by the tour operators.
The first charter flight from Russia is likely to land at the Dabolim airport in the early hours on October 9, followed by a Condor flight, which from this season would be scheduled flight. The Russian charter is being handled by SITA World Travels.
The captain of hotel industry said that the number of charter flights to arrive from United Kingdom would be 265 as against around 300 last year and the total shortfall in the arrival of tourists from that country could be in the range to 10-15 per cent. The biggest fall in arrival of charter tourists is from the Scandinavian countries, which was feared to be between 30-35 per cent, said the sources in the industry.
The tourism industry is, however, optimistic that the shortfall is likely to be made up by the Russians, who have planned in a big way to come to the state during the current season. They said the state would not be able to surpass the last year’s figure of around three lakh as regards to arrival of foreign tourists.
The hotel industry leaders also said that there were indications that more tourists could come to the state in the later half of the season, when the rates go down. In that case the tour operators were likely to operate larger aircraft to bring in as many as 380 tourists in each flight to cut down on operation costs.
The former president of Travel and Tourism Association of Goa, Mr Charles Bonifacio has said that despite the current indications, the tourism industry was buoyant and hopes to have a “fantastic season with bookings picking up of late”.
The likely fall in the number of foreign tourists has been attributed to global recession combined with higher insurance costs. Besides, the new visa regime introduced in United Kingdom also has created hassles with many retired people who used to frequently come down to Goa being forced to abandon or postpone their travel plans, said the leaders of hotel industry.