Date:12/07/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/07/12/stories/2006071203311900.htm

Back Goa to have two more international flights

Prakash Kamat

Panaji , July 11

Goa is poised to welcome two international scheduled flights in October-November to enhance its foreign tourist inflow from charters in the tourist season ahead.

The President of Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), Mr Ralph de Souza, told Business Line that Condor from Germany and the Sri Lankan airlines AirLanka will began their maiden weekly flights to Goa from October-November this year.

At least four other international airlines were willing to start their scheduled flights but issues pertaining to bilateral agreements between the Civil Aviation authorities of their respective countries were yet to be resolved.

At the 29th Founders' Day celebrations of the TTAG, Mr de Souza said the State's tourism has done well even during the current off-season with monsoon packages attracting domestic tourists.

As for the international tourist season ahead, Mr de Souza who heads a chain of bouquet hotels under de Souza Group of Hotels in North Goa, stated that the industry was looking forward to a good international arrival with the addition of scheduled flights to chartered arrivals, which were on rise.

Goa received 750 chartered flights last year as against 690 in the corresponding previous year.