------------------------------------------------------- CONVENTION OF THE GOAN DIASPORA FROM GOA INTO THE WORLD Lisbon, Portugal June 15-17, 2007 Details at: http://www.goacom.org/casa-de-goa/noticias.html -------------------------------------------------------
Goa Plus (TOI supplement) May 25-31 made the startling disclosure that "chartered flights have fallen [to] less than half " i.e. to 317 from 719 in 2005-06. This is a steep fall, right? What's happening? The article hints that we may be seeing a shift to the "Fully Independent Traveller" (FIT). I think this may be due to more domestic scheduled flghts from Bombay, Delhi etc. Maybe more foreigners are choosing to take a cab all the way to Goa. Anyway, this is something the media here needs to focus on. The article also talks about a drop in tourist numbers. One lakh less foreign tourists and even a 4% drop in domestic tourists. Is this the effect of the Al-Qaida threat we heard about in the Christmas/New Year season? This should ease the pressure on hotel rooms. In fact the article does talk about hotels slashing their rates by 30-35% during the monsoon season till October. But the government is doing fine as the luxury tax collections have actually increased by a remarkable 37%! In absolute amounts, however, it is the equivalent of a mere $10 million in a $900 million Goa tourism industry. The question for me is what is happening at Dabolim? The place seems to have dropped off Goa's radar screens as far as our media are concerned? The other day I read that charter planes are being forced to park at Belgaum! Why? Is the apron not being expanded? In the election campaign some noises are being made about Mopa as a second airport. Will keep goanet posted. ------------------------------------------------------- Goanet recommends, and is proud to be associated with, 'Domnic's Goa' - A nostalgic romp through a bygone era. This book is the perfect gift for any Goan, or anyone wanting to understand Goa. Distributed locally by Broadway, near Caculo Island, Panjim & internationally by OtherIndiaBookStore.Com. For trade enquiries contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------------------------------------
