VASCO: Goa opened its gates to what many hope will be a good tourism season this year after two years of Covid-19 pandemic.
The first International cruise ship ‘Viking Mars’ arrived at the International cruise berth of Mormugao Port on Wednesday morning. The ship brought in 651 passengers and 452 crew members. The ship is the first international ship to arrive in Goa this tourism season.
Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) and Goa Tourism welcomed travellers, while local taxi operators, who suffered a setback in their business during the pandemic, geared up to do brisk business.
Welcoming the passengers, Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar said that the port of call for cruise ships at the Mormugao Port was the need of the hour to increase the revenue of the State and generate self-employment opportunities for locals besides, offering a chance to both, domestic and international passengers to explore more in the touristic State.
Amonkar said that the local taximen will get maximum as about 65 domestic and international cruise ships are expected to arrive at the Mormugao Port in the current season. He appealed to all to stand unitedly and to offer the best to the tourists so that all get more benefits from the cruise tourism sector.
Amonkar was of the opinion that the State government must make Goa the port of call where in cruise ships can stay here for around two to three days instead of ships arriving in the morning and leaving the port by evening. “The port of call will help the passengers to spend more time to explore various locations across the State since they get only five to six hours of time,” he said. It will also increase the business opportunities for Goans, he added.
To a question, Amonkar claimed that both – Dabolim and Mopa international airports will co-exist in the State. He claimed that there will be no changes in flight operations at Dabolim Airport and the charter flights will also continue to arrive at the Dabolim Airport.