The first direct flight from the United Kingdom (UK) to Goa arrived at the state international airport at Dabolim as part of Goa tourism season 2016-17, officials said today.
The flight operated by Thomas Cook Airlines with 311 passengers on board landed at the airport from London last night.
Thomas Cook Airlines will operate six flights a week to Goa from London, three each from Manchester and Gatwick, Goa Tourism Department said in a release here.
"Data from theGoa airport indicates that80per cent of the passengers, who arrivedfrom Manchester last night usedthe e-Tourist Visa (ETV) facility," it added.
Freedom Holidays Pvt Ltd, the authorised representative of Thomas Cook Airlines, will oversee all the operational aspects at the Goa airport.
State Tourism Minister, Dilip Parulekar, in a statement issued here said, "We are very happythat the tourism season 2016-17 has commencedwithflying colours. We arevery delighted thatthe number ofdirect flights from Londonto Goa are increasing and each flight will bring around 325 passengers."
"The UKmarket is a very importantone for us and we are also going to impress on thisat the upcoming World Trade Mart (WTM) 2016 in London," he added.
"We are very thankful to Goa Tourism for extending a warm welcome to our guests from the UK and supporting all our endeavours in increasing connectivity between London and Goa," Chairman and Managing Director of Freedom Holidays Pvt Ltd, Martin Joseph said.
The 2016-17 tourism season of Goa officially commenced last month with the first chartered flight from Russia on October 2.
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