Panaji (Goa): Just-concluded  tourism season in the state saw rise in the number of chartered flights that arrived in Goa but low spending travelers has remained a concern for the industry.

“The tourist season was okay. The number of chartered flight arrivals has shown increase in the number but the problem lies in spending power of the visitors,” Savio Messias, President,  Travel and Tourism Association of Goa said.

“They travelled with limited budget to the state. Their spending power was not that high,” he said.

Messias said this tourist season 2,240 chartered flights landed at state’s lone Dabolim airport, which is an impressive growth of 30 per cent considering that 1,645 flights arrived last year.

The tourist season that began in September last year culminated in the end of May when state witnessed pre monsoon showers closing the beach for any kind of activities.

The beach shacks which are prominent highlight of state’s tourism activity are dismantled after May 31 when it rains.

“Delay in allotting shacks this time affected the business to a big extend,” Manuel Cardoso, General Secretary, All Goa Traditional Shack Owners Association said.

State government has drafted three-year-long tourism policy this year which guided the allotment of beach shacks. Cardoso said that the licences for the shacks was given in November month due to which Diwali season was lost.

“This time the actual season was only between January to March. We lost the business because state government delayed in allotting licences. If shacks are erected at right time, then they can make proper business,” he said.

Team TNV