In approximate numbers, Concord Exotic Voyages has handled 142 charters from October last till date. Sita Travels has touched around 30 charters a week since November, and British TUI has been landing around four flights a week since November 2024.
Picking up from where the industry left off after the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation is not rosy, but definitely shows signs of recovery after the pandemic and the subsequent economic slump.
Against this background, the flow of arrivals is expected to be steady till the end of the season, with Concord Exotic Voyages expecting to finish off with around 310 charters and 35,000 odd passengers.
“A lot of charter guests have opted for apartments and homestays instead of hotels, and that is why the hotel industry has felt a slight bump. There were fewer weddings this year, compared to last year, and that’s where the pinch came from,” stated Andrew, PRO of a resort which hosted a number of beach weddings last year.
The flow of arrivals is expected to be steady till the end of the season, with Concord Exotic Voyages expecting to finish off with around 310 charters and 35,000 odd passengers.
Agrees Ingrid, a customer executive in a luxury resort in South Goa, who says, “Goa was a wedding destination last time around, but the same story was not scripted this year. Other countries are cheaper and also because of the element of novelty – a foreign country.”
“There was a time,” recollects restaurateur Sergio Dias, “when even more than five charters landed in Goa in a day. What we are getting now is negligible and until the stakeholders manage to raise the figure, many will be crying.”
He is right. Going by the approximate figures shared by Condor Exotic Voyages, Goa welcomed around 11 flights a week, plus the four from TUI and SITA respectively, taking the approximate number to around two charter flights per week.
Carolyn Rodricks of Concord expects her company, to handle around another 15,000 or more clients this season. “If things change in our favour, we are ready and capable of handling more,” she says.
On the other hand, taxi operators, who are alleged to demand high fares, have their own tale of woe.
On the other hand, taxi operators, who are alleged to demand high fares, have their own tale of woe.
“People want to blame us, taxi drivers, for the low arrivals, forgetting the hardships we have endured over the years. For many, it is easy to point fingers of loot at us and ignore others,” says a crestfallen Remedios, who has been in the business for years.
“Taxi drivers never held customers by the gun and demanded money. We quoted a rate and if agreed upon, we took off. Everything was open with the client and that is why, till date, we have repeat clients who call us as soon as they arrive in Goa,” he shares.
Rickshaws or tuk-tuks, as they are known by many, can be seen doing reasonable business in South Goa, ferrying customers to the beach and returning later, even after sunset to pick them up.
“I make around seven to eight trips during the morning session and return to pick them up as per their convenience,” says Vincent, as he awaits his client in his rickshaw.
“We rarely get Indian clients. They either travel by rent-a-bike or rent taxis and it is good because foreigners are very reliable and do not hassle us for prices. They know we need to earn for our families,” admits Rosario, as he joins Vincent.
Yet, it is the confidence of Carolyn above, who could change the perception for many stakeholders. As long as tourism is not handled like a bubble, the fear of it bursting can easily be negated.