A month on, tourism season struggles to take flight

The early arrival of beach shacks along Goa's famed shores, set up as early as October, was meant to give the tourism season a strong start.

- AGNELO PEREIRA

However, the anticipated footfall remains underwhelming, leaving local business owners and tourism stakeholders disappointed.

While the arrival of chartered flights, especially from Russia, brought a glimmer of hope, the overall response so far has been far from satisfactory.

For a brief period during the Diwali weekend, Goa did see a rise in visitors.

However, local business owners describe the season as starting on a "sombre note."

Despite the current challenges, there is a sense of optimism on the horizon.

A number of exciting events are scheduled in the coming weeks, which could help boost visitor numbers and significantly improve the situation for local businesses.

HOTELIERS SKEPTICAL

The arrival of chartered flights in October initially raised hopes for an influx of foreign tourists, but hoteliers remain skeptical about the actual number of international guests. Serafino Cotta, former president of the Small and Medium Hotels Association, noted that the number of English charter flights has stagnated in recent years, showing no signs of growth.