l Tourist arrivals from January to September 2013 surpass records upto 2011
l Rise in number of domestic as well as international tourists
TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Goa has witnessed a significant 10 per cent rise in tourist arrivals between January and September 2013, as evidenced by latest statistics made available to Goa Tourism.
Domestic tourist arrivals in Goa from January to September 2013 have surpassed all records since 2011. Similarly, the state has also seen a rise in the number of international tourist arrivals according to statistics.
In January 2013, 2,21,514 domestic tourists arrived in Goa in comparison to 1, 98. 171 arrivals in 2011 and 2,05, 106 in 2012.
Similarly a sizeable increase in domestic tourist arrivals was also recorded in September this year at 1,27,857 in comparison to 1,13,884 in 2011 and 1,17,300 in 2012. In September 2013 there was a huge increase in foreign tourist arrivals too with 17,674 arrivals coming to Goa in comparison to just 5938 in 2011 and 16,141 in 2012.
“The overall growth rate and footfalls of domestic and international tourists is up by about 10 per cent,” says a press communiqué issued by the public relations agency Adfactors.
It adds that this increase in number of tourist footfalls is in line with the expectations of Goa Tourism following the ongoing marketing and promotion efforts made through public relation activities, road shows, campaigns, which include outdoor and social media, undertaken by Goa Tourism both in India and abroad.
The statistics suggest that the concept of monsoon tourism is picking up amongst visitors. Adfactors points out that during the domestic road shows conducted earlier this year, Goa Tourism had extensively campaigned, created awareness and promoted the experience of visiting Goa during the monsoons.
During the July-September peak monsoon months this year Goa received 3,01,779 domestic tourists in comparison to previous years. In 2012, as many as 2,86,671 domestic tourists arrived in Goa during the monsoon season while in 2011 there were 2,79,125 tourists arrivals in Goa during the monsoons.
Likewise, there was a quantum increase in foreign tourist arrivals during the peak July-September months this year. Statistics show that as many as 24,550 foreign tourist arrived during these three months as compared to 11,562 arrivals in 2012 and 14,175 in 2011.
Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar said, “We are extremely happy to observe the increase in number of tourists to Goa. Goa Tourism’s efforts to develop the tourism industry along with the infrastructure development has started to pay dividends.”
Parulekar said that this is a very encouraging sign and motivates the Tourism Department and the government to put in more efforts to raise the bar and ensure that Goa is always the choicest destination among domestic and international tourists.
