Whopping 25% cut in charter rates from UK

Whopping 25% cut in charter rates from UK
Preetu Nair | TNN

Panaji: A Delhi-Goa air ticket on November 29 may cost you anything between Rs 5,000 and Rs 12,000. But a charter tourist arriving from Manchester, UK, on the same day with a return ticket and 21 nights stay thrown in will have to shell out only Rs 17,000.
“As there has been a drop in the number of tourists from the UK, we have cut down the charter flight rates by 25%. This discount will start immediately and continue till the end of the season,” said Ernest Dias, vice president, Sita travels.
The discounted rates, which includes a return ticket and stay, being offered by charter operators range between £214 (Rs 15,836) and £400 (Rs 29,600) for travel up to December 20 for flights originating in Manchester, East Midlands and Gatwick. “The rates in 2007 were between £400 (Rs 29,600) and £1,000 (Rs 74,000) for charter flights from the UK,” said Dias.
Rates during the peak season—from December 25, 2008 to January 2009—have been fixed between £556 (Rs 41,144) and £1,700 (Rs 1,25,800). To these a fuel surcharge of £20 (Rs 1,480) is added. The packages are for a stay ranging from a week to three weeks in Goa.
Data available with the foreigner’s registration office reveals that the state receives tourists from nearly 125 nations, with the majority coming from the UK (60%), followed by Russia (20% to 25%), Sweden and Germany. Not more than 500 Israelis visit the state annually. However, till date 27 charter flights from UK to Goa have brought in just 7,680 British tourists.
“Due to the recession people are not spending on travel. There has been a dip, but the market will recover,” said Aloo Gomes Periera, chief operating officer, charters, Thomas Cook India Ltd.

November 20, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition