Goa seeks eased bilaterals, direct EU-UK flights to boost inbound tourism, ET Infra
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With international tourist arrivals yet to recover, the Goa government has requested the civil aviation ministry to bring in reforms, including a relaxation in the bilateral agreements for foreign airlines. Goa is advocating for a more liberal open skies policy for tourism states that are traditionally dependent on inbound travellers.The state government has asked the Centre to encourage international airlines and Indian carriers to increase direct connectivity between Goa and European cities."If we are serious about unlocking India's tourism potential, we must look at the open skies policy not just for metros but for tourism-driven secondary hubs. If Goa is to be part of India's tourism engine, we need to be part of India's aviation reform agenda," said tourism minister Rohan Khaunte.Goa handles about 160 flights per day, with a very small percentage being international flights. The state has also seen a significant reduction in charter flights after the pandemic, though the decline began much before that. Last year, Goa had close to 10 million travellers, but almost 9.5 million were domestic travellers, and only half a million came from international destinations.The worrying sign has prompted the state government to call for reforms and innovation in civil aviation. Chief minister Pramod Sawant and Khaunte have conveyed Goa's concerns to the Centre."A recalibration of bilaterals, opening the door for long-haul connectivity to the EU, UK, and the Nordic region — Goa's winter sun markets — and strategic engagement with West Asian hubs that can serve as aviation bridges," said Khaunte.
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