The Goa Government is expecting the new terminal building at Dabolim airport to be operational anytime between December 2013 and January 2014 after an assessment at a review meeting on Dabolim airport held Monday which was chaired by Chief minister Manohar Parrikar. Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar addressing the media after the meeting said, “We expect the new terminal building to be operational by December,” adding that Goa is expecting a huge surge in foreign tourist arrivals with more than 300 charter flights slated for landing at Dabolim. Monday’s meeting was chaired by chief minister along with airport officials, tourism minister and tourism stakeholders. Reports suggest that the Visa on Arrival (VoA) facility would be implemented only after the new terminal building is operational. However Collective Landing Permits (CLPs) approved by the Centre will be granted to foreigners visiting India at the existing airport terminal. The meeting chaired by the chief minister took stock of the arrangements at the airport both old and new and for smooth handling of passengers on arrival at Dabolim as the tourism season is due to commence shortly and the first charter flight scheduled for October 15. Several travel and tour operators present for the meeting raised issues which the government said it would look into while others needing central intervention would be conveyed through a communiqué within the next couple of days. Tourism stakeholders led by the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa informed the government of their high expectations of charter arrivals this season and pegged the approximate increase at 30 per cent. This year the industry is expecting huge turn up of charters from Russia seeking collective landing permits. While the new terminal building would have as many as 18 counters for issue of various kinds of visas and collective landing permits, tour and travel operators insisted on need for additional counters at the existing terminal . A minimum of 10 counters has been asked for by the TTAG. Other issues raised by stakeholders were parking arrangements and tourist taxi counters to prevent alleged harassment to tourists by the taxi operators. Similarly there would also be additional deployment of IRB to step up security arrangements at the Dabolim airport. The stakeholders suggested a foreign exchange counter in the immigration section for the benefit of visiting foreign tourists and urged airport authorities and immigration official to ensure smooth operations therein. Suggestions for modification to the charter policy, multiple landing visas for international airline pilots and other operational issues would also be taken up by the Goa government with the Centre. [H]
Posted on: Sun, 01 Dec 2013 17:11:36 +0000