PANAJI: The latest announcement by the center that it will issue a free tourist visa for five foreign visitors Lakh has raised the enthusiasm of tour operators in the cave that predicted the charter tourism getting a very needed encouragement when the kickstarts season in October-November.
Over the past few years, the arrival of the Charter in Goa ranged from 2 and 2.5 lakh.
Meanwhile lost a large number of tourists from Western Europe, tour operators now see reviving their reduced fate.
In fact, the industry feels that tourists from England, Eastern Europe and Russia tend to cut the offer.
“This is a very good announcement and will help Goa in a great way because tourists are very conscious of the price.
It can provide incentives to the family to buy a package,” Ernest Dias, Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Sita Travels told Toi.
“Offering a free visa is a marketing gimmick that will make a big difference.” Over the past few years, Goa travel and tourism associations (TTAG) have demanded that the government offer a free visa, as carried out by several Asian rival destinations, if it wants to increase foreign footsteps.
“We have asked the Goa government to urge the center to offer a free tourist visa and say that if the center does not agree, the state government must return a visa fee to a local operator.
This finally happened,” said President Ttag, Nilesh Shah.
He, however, said the government must announce first when inbound tourists will be permitted.
Abida Kumar, Vice President of Operations at Minar Travels (India) PVT Ltd, said the family who took early bird offerings would certainly benefit from making a big difference when the package was offered minus visa fees.
“If the announcement of the opening of the international border occurs immediately, we will be able to start the season in October and the cave will get a profit in a big way.
Because the cave mostly got a budget tourist, a price difference of $ 200-400 in one package for the fourth family,” Kumar said.