Panaji: Goa’s international charter season is expected to begin earlier this year, with the first flight from Russia likely to arrive on Sep 30 and operators expecting six to seven weekly flights from Moscow and Yekaterinburg.Charter flights from the UK are scheduled to begin in Nov, with four flights a week—two each from Manchester and Gatwick. The hospitality industry has described advance bookings as “encouraging”, estimating them to be about 7% higher than at the same time last year.“Strong advance bookings for the upcoming season show a high level of interest in travelling to Goa. We have noticed an increase in advance bookings from Russia and Kazakhstan for this winter compared to the previous year, which indicates strong traveller confidence ahead of the winter season,” said Sheik Ismail, senior vice-president of Concord Exotic Voyages.Concord handled 44,000 to 45,000 Russian tourists last season. “Only after Oct or Nov will we be able to speak about this year’s figures. There is scope for additional charter flights during the season if demand continues to grow. Longer stays of around 10 to 15 nights also mean a greater economic contribution from each international visitor. Strong repeat demand from international travellers further reinforces Goa’s position as a preferred holiday destination,” Ismail said.TUI has already recorded bookings from 15,300 British tourists for the winter season.“This will be the first time we welcome an incentive group of this nature from Germany to Goa. We also intend to promote local sightseeing tours and curated experiences tailored to the interests of these guests, allowing them to explore and experience the destination beyond their stay,” said Nahush Bargi, assistant vice-president of Le Passage to India (TUI Group).Tourists from Belarus, Armenia, Moldova and Kyrgyzstan are also expected to arrive in Goa during the last quarter of 2026.“The tourists from Belarus are also coming but the discussions about a dedicated charter flight are still ongoing. This year I hope we will do better business than last year,” Ismail said.Director of tourism Kedar Naik said the department was working with the trade and international partners to strengthen forward demand.“The upcoming winter season is showing encouraging signs, particularly from the UK, Russia, Central Asia and European markets, which is a positive indicator for international tourism in the months ahead,” Naik said.In another boost for Dabolim airport, several Russian charter flights have opted to operate into the Naval-controlled airport this season. Last year, all Russian charter flights landed at Manohar International Airport, Mopa.However, charter operators said Russian tourists continue to face difficulties in making payments for flights and visa fees, as neither Indian nor Russian cards are being accepted for such transactions.“The visa process is also a bit disheartening as Vietnam offers visa-free arrival for 30 days and most Asian countries like China, Thailand, Sri Lanka are full of Russians right now. Colombo is also popular, and charters are expanding to Sri Lanka too. Our govt also needs to take a little extra initiative to make this industry a success,” a charter operator said.Goa has already recorded 61.4 lakh visitors in the first seven months of 2026. Steady year-to-date arrivals, positive international bookings and robust hotel occupancy are expected to support tourism through the remainder of the year.
