PANAJI
The conflict in West Asia has begun to block one of Goa’s busiest outbound travel seasons, with tour operators reporting mass cancellations, rerouted itineraries and a sharp spike in costs that threaten to wipe out summer business.
Departures to Europe and the United Arab Emirates -- long favoured by Goan travellers -- have been severely disrupted as key transit corridors across the Middle East face airspace restrictions and closures.
What began as a geopolitical flashpoint has quickly cascaded into a full-blown travel crisis, with April“May bookings, largely leisure-driven, bearing the brunt.
“Departures to Europe and the UAE, particularly through Gulf transit hubs, are significantly disrupted, as parts of the Middle East are airspace affected or restricted, triggering a cascading impact on travel plans. Several trips scheduled for April-May have already been cancelled or postponed, with leisure travel accounting for the bulk of these bookings. Groups to other destinations are also in two minds towards operations westbound,” Owner of Travel World Goa Sagar Kulkarni said.
The disruption has been compounded by the closure of Iranian and Qatari airspace, forcing airlines to suspend or reroute services. Carriers including Gulf Air, have offered full refunds for cancellations up to mid-April, while Qatar Airways, where operations have been halted, is providing refunds till April 30 along with rerouting options. Several other airlines have also been constantly posting updates on their sites.
For many, however, the logistical relief has not translated into financial ease.
“The US dollar strengthening against the rupee has pushed up every component, such as airfares, hotels, ground operations... Add to that rising oil prices and airlines are passing on fuel surcharges,” Kulkarni said.
For travellers, the uncertainty has proved decisive. Ahraz Mulla of Goa Adventure Club said nearly 90 percent of passengers bound for the UAE, particularly Dubai, had cancelled flights originating from Goa.
“Flights from Mumbai to Dubai are still operating, so some continued their journey from there... Transit passengers from Kuwait and Doha heading to Europe shifted to other carriers like Emirates,” he added.
Refunds have nevertheless softened the blow, he added, with airlines, hotels and tourist attractions largely waiving cancellation charges. “But visa fees are non-refundable,” he said.
Not all routes have been affected equally, as pilgrimage travel to Jeddah and Mecca continues without disruption, and evacuation coordination between airlines and travel agents has helped maintain some movement.
The working class commuting between Goa and Dubai has also managed to travel, albeit with delays and altered routes.
Yet for families and leisure travellers, anxiety remains high. “I really want to go back, but it feels too risky right now, especially with a six-month-old,” Anisia Fernandes, who has been stranded in Goa since last month, said.
“There are flights from Mumbai to Sharjah, but not to Dubai, and everything is uncertain. Friends there get alerts at any time and have to rush out. I can’t imagine managing that with a baby.”
Across the industry, cancellations are often temporary rather than permanent. Travel agents have stated many bookings to the UAE are being deferred, not abandoned, suggesting pent-up demand could return once tensions ease.
“There could be surges later, what people call ‘revenge travel’, but right now, its survival mode,” one agent said.
