PANAJI: Even as a tour operator awaits booking confirmation from Russian destination, First Flight TUI Airways’ from England will land in Goa on December 13.
India began to issue a visa on October 15, and bookings had entered from other destinations.
Travel agencies feel the worsening pandemic in Russia has stopped booking.
The lack of clarity over the SOP applicable for tourists is another reason for booking slow.
“We have not received one booking from Russia so far, even though their government has allowed two flights, one from St.
Petersburg and others from Moscow.
We waited for them to tell us what schedule they wanted to apply here,” said Abida Kumar, Vice President, Operations, Minar Travels (India).
Kumar said that the case of Soaring Covid-19 could be the reason they had not heard from their Russian colleagues so far.
“We were told people have been asked to work from home there.
We don’t know what happened,” he said.
Anupam Kumar, Director, Caper India, said that bookings from Russia and other countries from the Commonwealth of Independent State (CIS), their main market, had been postponed, but was convinced that the flight would begin on November 15.
“We know for sure from November 15, two flights will arrive weekly, even though the slots have not been allocated.
From December, we anticipate more flights, at least five to six a week,” he said.
He also said the response in terms of bookings was worth so far, but it was clearly needed on SOP, which was still unclear.
“As soon as it happens, we will have a better understanding of the possibility of a tourist response,” he said.
Ernest Dias, Chief Operating Officer, Sita Travels, said that despite movement (tourism) has begun, the order will begin after the flight schedule was announced and all SOPs were resolved.
“SOP has been issued but they have to be detailed.
We hope to get a charter from Russia from December,” Dias said.
The Indian government has announced that international tourists who come to India must produce RT-PCR-negative certificates, and the Goa government has limited the test level at Rs 3,200 for international tourists.
Goa received around 9 Lakh International tourists, including the arrival of Charter 2-2.5 lakh, every year.
More than half of the charters in Goa come from CIS countries, and the rest from England and several European countries.
Last season, for the first time in decades, Goa did not receive a charter because of a pandemic.
The operator expects a decent season after a one-year break.