FIRST FLIGHT
Coming from the Russian capital of Moscow
FROM UK
Will start reaching from November onwards
HIGH EXPECTATIONS
More flights from UK this year than earlier years
YEAR'S DELIGHT
There will be more flights from Ukraine this time
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PANAJI: The first charter flight of the upcoming tourist season, which is set to begin in a couple of months, will land in Goa on October 3. Every year charter flights bring foreign tourists in large numbers from countries like UK, Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan to the shores of Goa.
This season too it appears that charter flights will bring significant number of tourists, as tour operators for such flights confirmed that they are already getting some bookings.
Sheikh Ismail, general manager, Concord Travels & Tours, said, “The first charter flight from Moscow will land on October 3. We will be bringing four jumbo jets from Moscow every week this season. November onwards, we will also be bringing one charter flight per week from Ukraine.”
In the last decade or so, Russian tourists have dominated the segment of charter flights in Goa and it seems that this season is not going to be any different. Not only Russia but its neighbouring countries also send a lot of tourists through charter flights.
Ernest Dias, chief operating officer, Sita Travels and TCI said, “I am hopeful that we will get more flights from Russia, UK and Ukraine in this season than earlier. We are expecting an additional charter flight from UK this season. We also think that we should be getting more flights from Ukraine this time. Our flights from Russia should start landing in Goa from mid-October. British flights will start landing in Goa from November onwards.”
A crucial change in Goods-and-Services-Tax (GST) rules will help tour operators, who bring tourists from charter flights. As per the latest change, GST is now applicable on “actual tariff” and not on “declared tariff.”
Earlier, hotels had to pay GST on declared tariff even if they had charged a much lower tariff to the tourists. Tour operators are pleased because now GST is on actual tariff, which will make it easier for them to make affordable packages for tourists.
