PANAJI: The tourism industry in Goa, which is facing headwinds from decline in foreign visitors, is set to face a direct loss of around Rs 50 crore with the collapse of UK travel giant Thomas Cook, tour operators told TOI.
On an average, Thomas Cook Airlines booked 35,000 seats from the UK to Goa every season through its charters. "It is a big loss and we have not even estimated the indirect loss," said Aloo Gomes Pereira of Trail Blazer Tours India (TBI) Pvt Ltd. TBI handled Thomas Cook's business operations in Goa.
Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) president Savio Messias said there were around 2,100 British visitors who came every week from November to April.
"We are in talks with other travel companies to see what alternative arrangements can be made to save the situation. We are meeting tourism secretary J Ashok Kumar on Tuesday to discuss the situation," he said.
Traditionally, Goa's tourism season is counted from October to May with arrival of charter flights at the beginning of the season.
Freedom Holidays, another tour operator, said it is a big setback to the industry. "We are looking at other options to make good the losses," its managing director Joseph Martin said.
He said they would continue to handle business for another UK company Tui Airways, which also brought in visitors through its charters but in lesser numbers. Charters from Tui Airways landed in Goa only thrice a weekRead More – Source
