Now Reading: Kazakhstan flights to boost Goa winter tourism push
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Kazakhstan flights to boost Goa winter tourism push
Goa will get two new weekly charter flights from Kazakhstan this winter, with SCAT Airlines beginning an Almaty-Dabolim service from 23 October and Air Astana starting an Astana-Mopa service from 30 December. The SCAT service will rise to two weekly flights from 29 December to 2 April. Both routes will connect Kazakhstan to Goa through Dabolim and Mopa airports.
Tourism minister Rohan Khaunte said the government has allocated Rs 2 crore for a charter incentive programme to attract more international visitors. Major operators including Concorde, TUI and TCI have booked travellers from Europe and the Middle East. The first charter from Moscow arrived at Goa International Airport on Sunday, 4 October, with over 285 passengers and crew.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The Kazakhstan flights add a new central Asian source market to Goa's winter season, which already draws charters from Europe and the UK. By opening both Dabolim and Mopa to these routes, the state distributes passenger traffic and tests Mopa's capacity to handle international arrivals. The Rs 2 crore incentive programme will subsidise operators, but the real measure of success will be whether the twice-weekly Almaty service and the Astana link sustain their schedules beyond April, when the winter season ends. The tourism director will need to show that these new connections translate into higher occupancy and spending across Goa's coastal and hinterland destinations.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
