At cost of Rs 1.7 crore, Goa tourism to head to Europe to get ‘more responsible tourists’

Times of India | 1 day ago | 07-11-2022 | 06:54 am

Times of India

1 day ago | 07-11-2022 | 06:54 am

PANAJI: The state tourism department is set to travel to Frankfurt, Zurich, Paris, and Vienna early next year as it strives to attract “more responsible tourists” to Goa. At a cost of Rs 1.7 crore, the government will participate in roadshows in major continental European cities just days after it pulled out of the World Travel Mart in London for the first time in two decades. A senior department official said that the primary objective of these roadshows — which will take place in January and February — is for the state to compete in the international market and promote Goa (and India) as a safe and world-class destination. “Goa tourism has recently revised its strategy towards a more responsible form of tourism in line with its Tourism Master Plan and Policy, 2020,” he said. The decision to participate in roadshows in cities that are not major sources of tourists comes days after tourism minister Rohan Khaunte called for a “course correction”. Stating that Goa can no longer be under the misconception that it’s the sole preferred tourism destination, he said the state will look at Poland, South Korea, Japan, and the United States as new markets. Traditionally, most of Goa’s foreign tourists have come from Russia and the UK, and Khaunte said that the state now can’t depend on only these two countries. In pulling out of the WTM, London, Khaunte had cited a “political bottleneck in resolving visa issues”. With e-visas not being issued to UK travellers, it will be futile to participate in the WTM, he had said. “This year, we have only gone to Singapore to promote Goa,” the tourism minister said. “After Mopa international airport starts operations, we will have connectivity to so many new places.” Thus, as it seeks to make inroads into new markets, the state has invited event management agencies empanelled with the tourism department to manage its roadshows in the four cities in Germany, Switzerland, France, and Austria. In these roadshows, the department will showcase the state’s unique experiences, niche culture, rich heritage, natural attractions, and unexplored villages, apart from its beautiful beaches all that Goa has been known for hitherto. “Given the state’s size and environmental vulnerability, the authority intends to promote quality tourism to attract more responsible tourists, who often don’t mind paying extra for good quality services that they receive,” the tourism official said. The international roadshows will also provide Goan tour operators, travel agents, and hoteliers, among others, a platform to showcase their products. “Our target is to ensure a sustained flow of international tourists for various tourism segments — first itinerary travelers, wellness, MICE, leisure, monsoon, and medical. The agencies will have to evolve a strategy to achieve these goals,” a senior officer said. The officer said that the authority intends to target prospective international customers from the following source markets, but not limited to these countries, as these are among the top based on social media statistics and the quantum of visitors. The Covid-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the global tourism industry leading to heavy revenue losses and job cuts across the board, a scenario that was no different for Goa too, the officer said.