Big Blow To Goa’s Tourism Industry, No UK Charter To Land Till Mid-December

In what is being considered to be as a major holdup for Goa’s tourism to pick up, it is now leant that no UK charter flights will land in the state until at least mid-December. 

TUI Airways – the only company handling UK charter flights to the state after Thomas Cook pulled out last year – has now decided to cancel all their package programs to the state. 

This comes after travel restrictions continue to be in place and no clear measures or SOP’s are laid down yet by authorities. 

TUI’s Group Purchasing Director Helen Caron in a letter to its hotel partners in Goa said that due to travel restrictions by the UK government to India, they have decided to suspend their packages to the state. 

“As a result of the UK government’s travel restrictions to India, we have been forced to suspend our programme to your destination. Even now, after weeks and months, sadly, there is still no sign of a relaxation which would allow TUI UK to resume operations to Goa in the immediate future,” the letter stated. 

The letter informs that the company has now suspended all their travel programmes to Goa till December 18, 2020. 

TUI airways had filled in after Thomas Cook shut down and had managed to retrieve Goa’s UK tourism market. Last tourism season, it operated nearly five flights a week to Goa. 

Because of no resumption of an international flight, the UK company was forced to arrive at this decision. The tourism association in the state said that international flights may resume by January, however, the government needs to announce that in advance to enable several partners to do bookings and other arrangements that need time. 

The UK is Goa’s second-biggest market after Russia, and with travel restrictions still in place, it is being measured that Russians may now prefer to holiday in other countries due to rising cases in the state. 

The Chief Minister had earlier written to the MHA requesting for an air bubble system to restart Goa’s foreign tourism; however, no reply has been received to date. 

All these developments come as a big blow to Goa’s already struggling tourism, as a large chunk of tourists from these countries will be left out. This means low footfalls, and with time running out, stakeholders are worried that this tourism season will be very bleak. 

Domestic tourism, which has been on the booming side, especially considering this long holiday weekend, appears to be the only salvage for Goa’s tourism this year, with a very low foreign arrival expected. 

Meanwhile, it is learned that shack allotment along beaches will be delayed for another one to one and a half month as final decision from the government is still pending. With permissions and licenses to be sought, the setting up may be delayed by 45 days.