Operation of charter flights will depend on global Covid scenario: Union Tourism Minister

Union Minister for Tourism and Culture G. Kishen Reddy on Friday said that the operation of chartered flights will depend on the global Covid19 scenario.

Reddy also said that state government and the Union Home Ministry will take a call on any possibility of restricting tourist activity during the ongoing third wave of the pandemic.

While speaking to reporters at the Dabolim international airport in Goa, Reddy said, "It depends on international issues. Whether charter flights are starting in other countries and whether charter flights should enter India, depends on the situation."

Charter flights from UK and Russia account for a bulk of Goa's foreign tourist arrivals every year. Nearly 900 charter flights mostly from Russia, UK and Germany annually found their way to Goa before the Covid pandemic struck, which lead to the closure of all international travel.

After a year-long hiatus due to COVID-19-induced lockdown, Goa had started welcoming international tourists charter on December 15 last year.