The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa, (TTAG), said Monday it was optimistic about this year’s tourism season and that it would surpass the previous one.
Jack Sukhija, TTAG president, said the state was operating at 50% of pre-season levels in 2019. He expects the tourism industry to grow this year, which indicates a promising season for the industry.
“So far the signs are positive. We expect a rise in charters landing in the state. There is a lot of anticipation for new charters to arrive from Poland. A single operator will also bring in 10 flights per week from Russia.
“We will also have charters arriving from other parts around the world,” said he.
Sukhija, along with Suneel Anchipaka of the tourism department, spoke to reporters in Panaji. They said that the TTAG had joined forces with the tourism department and SKAL Goa for a series activities planned over a period of a week to celebrate World Tourism Day, which aligns with the concept regenerative tourism. The main stakeholders’ meet, which usually takes place in a five-star hotel, will this time take place on a spice farm.
Sorawong Thienthong is Thailand’s Tourism Minister. She plans to introduce the 300-baht tourist tax again to boost revenues. She aims to raise 3 trillion baht by this year. The tax will be applied to foreign arrivals via air, sea and land. The ministry may also consider reintroducing stimulus programs from pandemic years and hosting events, such as marathons or the New Year countdown, to meet revenue goals.
The TTAG President said that heritage walks are also being organised at places with historical and cultural importance. Anchipaka declined to comment on the state of the department’s preparations for the upcoming Exposition of the Sacred relics of St Francis Xavier. The event is scheduled to run from November 21, this year, to January 5, 2020.
The tourism director did not address the ongoing dispute that exists between the Goa Tourism Development Corporation, or GTDC, and the Dudhsagar Tour Operators Association. The association accused a service provider hired by GTDC for managing all-terrain vehicle reservations during the previous tourism period of orchestrating INR 8 billion “fraud”.
