Panaji: Goa’s international charter tourism season began on Thursday with the arrival of the first charter flight from Yekaterinburg, carrying 162 passengers from Russia to Goa International Airport, Dabolim.The Aeroflot flight is part of the Russia-Goa charter programme operated with support from Concord Exotic Voyages (India) Pvt Ltd and the Minar Group. Its Sept arrival marks an earlier start to the charter season than in previous years, when international operations typically began in early or mid-Oct.Airport director Akash Deep said Aeroflot will operate six flights a week—three each from Moscow and Yekaterinburg—with additional flights expected in the coming months. The next Russian charter, carrying around 285 passengers from Moscow, is scheduled to arrive on Oct 4.Charter flights from the UK are scheduled to begin in Nov, with a Le Passage to India (TUI Group) service from Manchester, currently booked for around 285 passengers, due on Nov 4, followed by a flight from Gatwick. Charter operations from Kazakhstan are also expected to begin in the coming weeks, operators said.Concord Exotic Voyages senior vice-president Sheik Ismail said the Yekaterinburg service would carry fewer passengers than the Moscow flights, while a large proportion of Russian visitors this season had booked five-star resorts. Goa received around 33,000 Russian tourists last season, with the number projected to rise to 45,000 this season, he said.Minar Group vice-president Shubert Colaco said the Russian charter programme would continue until April. The group had also facilitated the first charter flight of the previous season.Tourism minister Rohan Khaunte said govt was focusing on strengthening established international markets such as Russia and the UK while expanding Goa’s international connectivity and promoting the state as a year-round destination beyond its beaches.Tourism director Kedar Naik said international charters remained a significant component of Goa’s tourism economy.“The planned increase in frequencies from Russia, together with charter services from the UK, Kazakhstan and other markets, will further strengthen Goa’s international connectivity during the season,” Naik said.Nahush Bargi, assistant vice-president of Le Passage to India (TUI Group), said industry sentiment ahead of the UK charter season was positive, citing continued traveller interest in Goa.
