ID :
33081
Sun, 11/30/2008 - 06:24
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/33081
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Mumbai terror attacks will impact tourism in Goa: Experts
Panaji, Nov 29 (PTI) The tourism industry in the western
Indian state of Goa is apprehensive that its coming season may
hit a dead end following the terror attacks in Mumbai, even as
global meltdown has begun to take a toll on the sector.
"The Mumbai attack will naturally have its impact on
Goa's tourism," Goa Tourism Director Elvis Gomes told PTI.
Goa, a favourite destination amongst foreign guests,
has already seen a 20 percent drop in arrivals beginning
October.
The crisis in Mumbai will add to the woes of this
industry, which has already cut down its room tariffs.
Goa Chief Minister Digamber Kamat and state Home Minister
Ravi Naik, in recent press conferences, have appealed to
tourists not to worry. "All the precautionary steps are in
place," Kamat had stated.
Despite assurances, tourism industry players have kept
their fingers crossed over the oncoming season, which usually
witnesses a rush for Christmas and New Year celebrations.
The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), an
apex body of hotels and tour operators, has said that the
tragedy would cause a drop in the Free of Itinerary (FIT)
category of travellers.
"FIT tourists arrive in India through different
flights, travel around India and then use Mumbai as the point
to enter Goa. Of the total foreign travellers, 50 percent are
FIT," TTAG President Ralf de Souza said.
Ralf contended that the global meltdown had already hit
the tourism industry with travel agencies not being able to
make bookings for the months of January and February.
"Those are the months all tour operators look forward to.
There have been virtually no bookings as of now," he said.
Industry players fear a tattered season ahead with
France, US, UK and Australia issuing adverse travel advisories
against touring in India.
Goa attracts three lakh foreign tourists, of which almost
50 percent are Britishers.
Vice-President of Sita Travels, a travel agency and
charter handler, Ernst Dias, said that post the terror strikes
in Mumbai, few tour packages from Russia and Ukraine to Goa
had been cancelled. PTI RPS
PMR
NNNN
Indian state of Goa is apprehensive that its coming season may
hit a dead end following the terror attacks in Mumbai, even as
global meltdown has begun to take a toll on the sector.
"The Mumbai attack will naturally have its impact on
Goa's tourism," Goa Tourism Director Elvis Gomes told PTI.
Goa, a favourite destination amongst foreign guests,
has already seen a 20 percent drop in arrivals beginning
October.
The crisis in Mumbai will add to the woes of this
industry, which has already cut down its room tariffs.
Goa Chief Minister Digamber Kamat and state Home Minister
Ravi Naik, in recent press conferences, have appealed to
tourists not to worry. "All the precautionary steps are in
place," Kamat had stated.
Despite assurances, tourism industry players have kept
their fingers crossed over the oncoming season, which usually
witnesses a rush for Christmas and New Year celebrations.
The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), an
apex body of hotels and tour operators, has said that the
tragedy would cause a drop in the Free of Itinerary (FIT)
category of travellers.
"FIT tourists arrive in India through different
flights, travel around India and then use Mumbai as the point
to enter Goa. Of the total foreign travellers, 50 percent are
FIT," TTAG President Ralf de Souza said.
Ralf contended that the global meltdown had already hit
the tourism industry with travel agencies not being able to
make bookings for the months of January and February.
"Those are the months all tour operators look forward to.
There have been virtually no bookings as of now," he said.
Industry players fear a tattered season ahead with
France, US, UK and Australia issuing adverse travel advisories
against touring in India.
Goa attracts three lakh foreign tourists, of which almost
50 percent are Britishers.
Vice-President of Sita Travels, a travel agency and
charter handler, Ernst Dias, said that post the terror strikes
in Mumbai, few tour packages from Russia and Ukraine to Goa
had been cancelled. PTI RPS
PMR
NNNN
