Russia-based Transaero Airlines was first off the block, operating its first scheduled flight from Moscow to Goa on Oct 26.
PANAJI: “This is a year of reckoning for tourism in particular and business in general,” says Ralph de Sousa, President of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa. The sunshine state which had acquired the reputation for being a charter tourist’s dream destination with 719 planeloads of tourists coming here during the last season, has taken its first steps towards becoming a destination for scheduled flights also.
On Thursday, Condor - which put Goa on the charter map in 1984 by bringing in the first planeload of German tourists - landed its first commercial flight, disembarking 283 passengers. Condor will operate a direct flight to Frankfurt and Munich every week.
Russia-based Transaero Airlines was first off the block, operating its first scheduled flight from Moscow to Goa on October 26. On October 30, Air Lanka operated a direct flight from Colombo. And according to a report in the Straits Times, Singapore’s Tiger Airways is likely to fly in from Singapore next year.
Cecilia Menezes, honorary consul Federal Republic of Germany, told DNA, “The direct flight by Condor will be a boost to industry and bilateral trade.” Indo-German joint ventures have been growing in Goa, there are around 15 of them including Siemens, Dyna Jet, GKB Opthalmics and a direct flight will also not only make business grow but also aid in cutting down on travel time. “After all time is money,” adds Menezes.
Adds Minar Travels’ Duggal (Transaero’s general sales agent), “The launch of these flights will be a boost to the economy.” Thanks to Condor and Transaero, a window has been opened into Europe. The launch of these flights is also meant to be an incentive for Goans to travel abroad.
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