The Goa government on Thursday capped the RT-PCR testing rate for inbound foreign tourists at Rs 3,200, according to a government directive. In an order issued by the under-secretary (health), Gautami S Parmekar said that the prices will be applicable to all inbound foreign travellers arriving either by air or sea, for whom undergoing an RT-PCR test is mandatory, barring exceptions.
Charter flight operations in the country have been allowed since October 15, while free of itinerary tourists will be allowed from November 15. According to central government norms, RT-PCR testing is compulsory for everyone travelling to India.
Barring those who have tested negative for Covid 72 hours prior to arrival and those originating from countries who have mutual agreements with India on recognition of vaccination certificates. The first charter flights are expected to arrive in Goa in early November, according to the travel and tourism industry stakeholders.
Before the coronavirus pandemic, nearly five million foreign tourists arrived by tourist charter flights to the coastal state in 2019. Earlier, Chief Minister Pramod Swant has announced that the international charter flights will soon be hitting the runways at the Dabolim International airport in Goa. Goa is one of the leading beach and nightlife tourism destinations in the country.
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Goa has been a centre of attraction for the tourist. The tourism industry of Goa is hoping for revival after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) earlier this month announced that fresh tourist visas for foreigners through chartered flights will commence from October 15. The International charter flights account for a bulk of the foreign tourist footfalls to Goa.
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