After the landing of the TUI charter from the United Kingdom on November 3, tourism stakeholders are now waiting to welcome the first charter from Poland on November 8, 2024, to lift the spirits of the industry. There is still no sign of reaching dizzying heights of economic benefits. “I went to North Goa the other day, and despite the place being packed with tourists from India, the restaurants and shacks were empty.
It appears this is a crowd content with vada pav and prefers to spend the evenings in nightclubs,” says Orlando Nunes, General Manager of Trail Blazer Tours India. That the industry is experiencing a lull is evident when Reshma Alves of Earthen Experiences adds, “The tourists we are seeing today are not from the exclusive club. We have people coming by cars and buses in droves.
Their niche is specific to roadside eating.” Social media is abuzz after the arrival of the first TUI charter with Englishmen sharing experiences, offering advice and even planning meetings in Goa during their holidays on various platforms. “Hello! I’m curious about using Uber in Goa.
Is it reliable? Thanks, and happy Diwali ,” reads a post that received 56 comments. There is still an air of optimism with the number of charters increasing along with Foreign Individual Tourist (FIT) booking from UK, Italy and Scandinavia. “The restart of the charter from Poland is a positive step, and we expect more to follow,” discloses Alves.
Those already in Goa are enjoying themselves.