Panaji: The first charter flight from Kazakhstan, operated by SCAT Airlines from Almaty, touched down at Goa International Airport, Dabolim, on Friday night carrying 189 passengers, marking another milestone in the state’s international charter season.FlyArystan, another charter operator from Kazakhstan, will commence operations on Monday with 177 passengers on board an Airbus 320 touching down at Manohar International Airport. It will be followed by a Boeing 737 flight from Nur Sultan arriving at Dabolim every Tuesday.Caper Travel will help bring in around 63 charter flights from Kazakhstan this season with flights touching down at both the airports.“The average stay of the tourists is a minimum of seven nights and from New Year, there will be an additional flight. So from peak dates of the season, you will have four flights in total till end of March,” said Abida Kumar, executive director of Caper Travel.“Direct charter connectivity plays a valuable role in bringing international travellers closer to Goa and strengthening the state’s engagement with emerging tourism markets. We will continue to work closely with airlines, tour operators and industry stakeholders to facilitate international arrivals and promote Goa’s varied offerings,” said tourism director Kedar Naik.Tourism minister Rohan Khaunte said that the arrival of the first SCAT Airlines charter from Kazakhstan is an encouraging development for Goa’s international tourism outreach. “Kazakhstan and the wider central Asian region present opportunities for us to deepen our engagement with emerging source markets and welcome more international visitors to the state,” said Khaunte.The minister said that the state continues to focus on strengthening international flight connectivity while showcasing Goa’s diverse tourism experiences, rich cultural heritage and distinctive hospitality.
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