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BY HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, AUG 4 — In what may be deemed as a major boost to the State’s tourism
sector, the Union Civil Aviation Ministry is slated to lift the restrictions
imposed on the duration of stay by charter arrivals in Goa.
In other words, Charter arrivals whether Goan or foreign tourists will be
allowed to stay beyond four weeks which is presently the stipulated duration.
This was announced by tourism minister and the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Wilfred
de Souza at a press conference on Friday noon at the Secretariat, Porvorim.
Dr Willy who was in Delhi earlier this week met Civil Aviation Minister Praful
Patel and discussed a host of tourism and civil aviation matters concerning
Goa.
Dr de Souza told the media today that he had received a request from Goans
travelling on Charters for a relaxation in the stipulated duration of stay.
After discussing this at the centre, Dr Willy said that the union civil
aviation ministry has agreed to lift the restrictions for all. “They can now
stay in Goa as long as they want,” he said.
He further disclosed that the civil aviation ministry has agreed to allow
foreign (scheduled) airlines to come directly to Goa. “This will bring in the
high end tourists to Goa”, he said, adding the hotel industry will also benefit
from both the mentioned decisions.
Similarly, Air India will also be granted permission to introduce more flights
per week on the Kuwait-Dubai-Mumbai-Goa sector as soon as its new fleet of
aircrafts arrive.
Speaking on the Dabolim airport expansion plans Dr Willy said that the stage
was set for the transfer of land from the Goa government to the Airport
Authority of India. This is likely to be executed before August 15. Similarly,
work was also in progress for the transfer of nine acres of land from the Navy
to the AAI. This, he said, will enable the authorities to kick-start works for
expansion and upgrading the airport at Dabolim.
In the meantime, Dr Willy pointed out that the Dabolim airport would be made
operational 24 hours from the ensuing tourism season. “Except for a small
period in the morning for Naval exercises the airport will be operational 24
hours,” he said. “While the Navy has enough staff to keep open the control
towers 24 hours, the AAI has also offered to provide people to man the tower”,
he said.
He disclosed that the AAI and the Navy had entered into an agreement in this
connection.
In what also seems to be very interesting, the civil aviation ministry has
granted permission for commencement of a helicopter service in Goa.
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