Fewer Britons, Russians May Check In This Year

Bad publicity abroad doesn’t spell good news
Fewer Britons, Russians May Check In This Year
Preetu Nair | TNN

Panaji: The coming tourist season may see not just a decline in inflow of travellers from the UK, but also Russia and even Sweden.
“Due to adverse international publicity regarding safety in Goa as well as the stand by some locals against foreigners, there is a visible reluctance among Russian tourists to come to Goa this season,” Vikram Varma, advocate in Goa for the consul general of Russian Federation in Mumbai said.
It is a point that Nitin Kunkolienkar, president of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, almost agrees with. “There is a negative Goa wave developing in foreign countries due to agitations and opposition to anything foreign. This is definitely effecting tourism,” he said.
According to data available with the Foreigner’s Registration Office, the state receives tourists of 125 nationalities, but a majority are British (60%), followed by Russians (20-25%), Swedes and Germans. Every year, just about 500 Israelis visit the state. “The number of British and Russian tourists has increased, while there has been a decline in Israeli tourists,” said SP (FRO) Tony Fernandes.
“The UK and Russia are our main markets and the backbone of the tourism industry. But with no government effort to promote Goa in these two countries, we are losing out to cheaper destinations like Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius and even Kerala,” said Victor Albuquerque, pioneer in medical tourism in Goa. But with tourists visiting Goa on the decline, he fears that medical tourism will also suffer.
This isn’t good news for Goa, highly dependent as it
is on tourism. Goa has seen a steady increase in foreign tourists—from 2.5 lakh in 1997 to about four lakh in 2007, a majority of whom come by charters.
“The UK has been our main market, but Russia is a developing market. The new season will also see a decline in Swedish tourists as a major tour operator who used to bring about 500 tourists a week has cancelled operations to Goa,” said Ralph de Souza, president of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa.
Interestingly, it is not just the brass of the tourism industry who are worried. Taxi drivers in the coastal belts are also concerned. “Decline in tourists is not good news for us. Already deterred by
inflation, British tourists visiting Goa in the last season complained that the state is losing its lustre and is becoming a concrete jungle,” said Rajesh, a taxi driver from Calangute.
However, de Souza doesn’t agree with it. “Our UK clients have seen changes and there are complains of over-congestion but that can’t be taken as a universal reason for decline in tourists visiting Goa.”
Two airports can co-exist, says Sidhu
Panaji: A world-class airport with quality infrastructure is critical to Goa’s international competitiveness, Goa governor S S Sidhu said on Friday, adding that two airports can co-exist in the state. A new airport, which would be a key driver to Goa’s future growth, could work on a public-private partnership model on the lines of Hyderabad and Bangalore, he told the Goa Tourism Meet - 2008. He added that the new airport would receive a Rs 500 crore package.

August 9, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition