CALANGUTE: Calangute MLA Michael Lobo has sought the visa-on-arrival facility for British tourists to avoid a meltdown in tourism industry along the Bardez coastal belt. Lobo has also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi bringing to his notice the situation in Goa.

Talking to mediapersons on Friday morning, Lobo said that a large number of resort owners, guest house owners, taxi drivers, shack operators, travel agents and others connected to the tourism industry along the Bardez coastal belt have been approaching him to apprise him of the precarious position.

Lobo said, “We are in the peak season, but hotels only have 40 % occupancy right now,” he said. “Russian charter tourists have dropped by 60% because of the Ukraine war and the collapse of the rouble, and the situation is going to get worse.”

“The British charters have also dropped. During the peak period a few years ago, there used to be 18 charter flights from the UK. That has dropped to around 4-5 flights. Another factor is that they have to visit the Indian embassy to apply for the visa. Other south Asian countries such as Sri Lanka issue free visas on arrival to British tourists. Even countries like Cambodia are only charging 20 dollars for a visa on arrival for British tourists. That is why they’re not coming to Goa,” Lobo added.

He suggested that the Union government reduces the visa fee to 40 dollars and provides the visa on arrival.

Lobo fears that if British tourists are not provided this facility, the current situation could go from bad to worse.

“Currently the shortfall is being made up by domestic tourist arrivals. Most of the small guest houses will shut down by February if the situation goes on like this, and that will also have an adverse effect on people because a large number of tourism-dependent people will be rendered unemployed,” Lobo said. “The mining ban has created a crisis in the Goan economy, and if the tourism industry collapses, it will create social unrest,” he said, urging the state government to send a delegation to Delhi to convince the Modi-led government to provide the visa-on-arrival facility for British tourists.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Visa-on-arrival-for-Brits-will-benefit-tourism/articleshow/45507844.cms