Calangute: Russian Information Centre head in Goa Ekaterina Belyakova on Sunday stated that while Russia has not removed India or Goa from the list of safe destinations, Russian authorities have not discussed including Goa or India in the “safe” destination list.
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The decision will be a major blow to Goa as most of its foreign tourists comprise of Russians. “We were affected because of the rouble volatility, which led to nearly 60% drop in Russian tourists”.
Belyakova quoting her previous statement said, “We have noted that Russian authorities did not discuss including Goa or India in the list of “safe” destinations recommended by Russian government to Russian tourists. This has now dwindled to 200 rooms per day this season”.
The Centre said that its earlier statement, issued on Saturday, mentioned efforts made by Russia to scout new safe tourism destinations for travelling Russians, like Cuba, south Vietnam and southern China and that the statement may have been misinterpreted.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had cancelled all the flights heading towards Egypt after the explosion of a Russian passenger plane over the Sinai peminsula.
3 million tourists visit Goa annually, almost half a million of which are foreigners.
The centre operates from Goa and gives a helpline to hundreds of Russian vacationers who go to the state yearly and is endorsed by the Russian consulate in Mumbai.
An altercation between a local shack owner and Russian tourists on the Calangute beach was reported only last week.
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“The name of India and Goa may have not come up often during the discussion but that does not mean that Goa or India has been declared unsafe”. It can be said with the new developments across the globe Goa can be alternative tourist destination for Russian rather than Egypt and Turkey.
