Tourist season set to begin in Goa from October 4
Goa is all set to commence its tourist season from October 4 when the first chartered flight carrying visitors from Russia will land at the Dabolim airport, Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) President Savio Messiah said. The tourism industry is among the key revenue earners for the state, which has several picturesque beaches along its 105km-long coastline, attracting over 6mn visitors annually.
Goa banks on conventional visitors to pep up tourist season
TTAG is the apex body of tour operators in Goa. Though countries like Egypt and Turkey attract travelers with their cheaper holiday packages, the former Portuguese province is banking on its conventional visitors from Russia and the UK to pep up the tourist season, the TTAG President said. Messiah added that domestic holidaymakers have also given a boost to the state's tourism industry.
Domestic tourists have made Goa an all year round destination
"Domestic tourists who come here from across the country have made Goa an all year round destination, including in monsoon, which was earlier considered a slack season for the tourism industry," Messiah noted. The state's lone airport has been receiving a good number of chartered flights from different countries during the international tourist season that begins in October and ends in April or May.
Last season, Goa received 2.15L visitors in 808 chartered flights
A total of 808 chartered flights carrying 2.15L visitors arrived in Goa during the last tourist season, according to the State Tourism Department's website. Prior to that, 988 chartered flights had brought in 2.32L foreigners in 2016-17. "Beach shacks have already been erected and we are eagerly waiting for the first chartered flight to land," Goa Shack Owners' Welfare Society President Cruz Cardoso said.
Around 360 shacks are erected every year on Goa beaches
The Tourism Department this time allotted shacks much in advance due to which the structures are ready before the arrival of the first batch of Russian travelers. Beach shacks are palm-thatched structures where food and liquor are served to tourists. The Tourism Department allots shacks during tourist season every year. Reportedly, around 360 shacks are erected every year on various beaches.
