Stringent visa norms have forced chartered flight operators from Poland to delay operations to Goa, depriving the state of nearly 1,500 tourists. This information was given by tourism officials in Goa. Ralph D’Souza, Spokesman, Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) said Poland was supposed to start their regular operations to Goa from this year onwards but their flights will now be delayed.

D’Souza said, “We were expecting the first chartered fight to arrive by first week of November but due to time-consuming visa formalities they will not begin operations before December 15, 2010.” The delay will result in cancellation of seven flights from this country, which means we will lose out on 1,500 tourists, he said. Russian travellers prefer shifting their base out of Goa due to stringent visa rules in India, which restricts their vacation here, industry experts here said.  Russian travellers, who make for the second largest guests to this tourist state, have found Sri Lanka, Thailand and other countries as destinations to spend their vacations when icy winter hits Moscow.  Russian consulate representative, Vikram Varma said that earlier many Russians had made Goa as their base and used to be here during entire winter in their country.  \"They used to arrive here in November and stay till March or April, when temperature in the country drops to minus degree Celsius,\" Varma said, adding these travellers used to fly to destinations like Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia for some period and return to Goa. 
\"Now if they fly out of the country, they have to re-apply for visa and only after cooling period of one month, they can again get it,\" Varma said.  \"The visa issues is really causing inconvenience for the travellers who wants to spend more than two to three months here in Goa,\" Harpal Singh, station Manager, Minar Travels, said.  He said visa regulations, makes travellers mandatory to go back to their country and have cooling period of a month before coming back this has made them difficult to choose Goa as a travel destination.  Goa\'s loss seems to be gain of other competitive tourists spots like Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Malaysia.  \"Sri Lanka offers visa on arrival facility to all the tourists and also they don\'t charge landing fee for chartered flights,\" stated Ralf D\'Souza, spokesman, Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG).  D\'Souza said India used to give long term visas extending to one year for the tourists, which was adding to the repeat clienteles. 
\"Now, if they want to come twice, they have to go through the entire process of application of visa,\" he said.  There have been earlier reports of the Russians staying on in Goa for longer periods & trying to form cartels & running anti-social business establishments. The new stricter visa norms could however put a check on that.