New outfit for immigration staff at Goa airport

Fashion is never far away from anything and the new dress code will see immigration officials at Dabolim airport sport soon. With a white shirt and navy blue trousers, this staff is all set to welcome tourists from the next season. This new fashionable look will be rolled out at the international airport, and this is a part of a revised approach of dealing with travelers, when they enter the airport. This approach has already found favor with the travel and tour operators in the state and will be implemented at the Goa airport soon. This new look will reflect how enjoyable Goa is as a tourist state and how warm and friendly are the people. Police said that the move is meant at bolstering tourists' confidence at the immigration services here.

SP of the immigration department, Bosco George, said that this department would be the first contact of a foreign national arriving in state on a charter flight. Hence the immigration staff at the Dabolim airport has to display warmth and welcoming behavior, which can be seen through their clothes too. Interaction of the tourists with the immigration staff gives them a lasting impression of Goa. Hence, the staff needs to look good, pleasant and yet fashionable. The white shirt is friendlier compared to khaki uniforms and this new, friendly look would give the entire immigration process a new approach. The international airport will be a part of hospitality rather than an act of authority. The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa or TTAG president Ralph D'Souza agreed that this move would be vital for promoting tourism in the state.

Currently all the immigration staff wears khaki uniform worn by the police. The main purpose of the code is because in Goa immigration work is carried out by the personnel of the Goa police. But at most of the major airports in India the task is carried on by the Bureau of Immigration. Their staff does not wear a khaki uniform and wear the designated outfit. Goa police has also taken into consideration that a khaki uniform is worn by the Central Industrial Security Force or the CISF staff. This staff is posted at the airport and hence there is a requirement for the immigration staff to wear something different and more appealing. TTAG vice-president Ernest Dias said, that this gesture would give a positive picture of Goa. However, it would also ensure that authorities can make the whole procedure quicker and tourist-friendly. This way a tourist can avoid long queues at the immigration centre. Currently Goa is a hot destination for foreigners and lacs of charter tourists and about 2, 14,067 foreigners are cleared by the immigration staff at Dabolim airport. This region attracts charter flights from London, Gatwick, Moscow, Ekaterinburgh, St Petersburgh Amsterdam, Zurich, Manchester, Helsinki, and Leninburgh in Russia.