Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji (RS)

Panaji, Sep 28: The state expects to achieve a milestone in the tourist inflow this season by touching the 25 lac mark, for the first time in the history of the coastal state.

In terms of tourist arrival, the state is rapidly growing at a pace of 10-20 per cent annually besides welcoming 24 lac odd visitors last year.

“This season, the figure will touch the record 25 lac, which will be the highest for the state till date ... at least 10 per cent increase in foreign arrivals is expected this season,” said Ralf D'Souza, chairman, Travel and Tourism Organization of Goa (TTAG).

Goa, famous for its 105-km-long sandy and pristine beaches, also created a record of sorts when it attracted sizeable foreign and domestic tourists during off-peak monsoon season.

Officially, the tourist season began this week and the first chartered flight will touch Goa airport sometimes next week.

While domestic tourist influx cannot be projected accurately, industry experts feel that the chartered flights will spiral to 750 marks this time.

“Last year,  a total 725 chartered flights arrived. This year, there will be a slight increase in the figures,” D’Souza stated.

However, the chartered flight growth in the state is marred by the constraints on Goa airport. “There are limited slots available and we have to share the airport with Indian navy and domestic flights,” the TTAG president said.