PANJIM: While tourism stakeholders are brooding over a poor tourist season, tourist arrival figures for the year 2014 have shown an impressive upward trend of 30 per cent compared to the previous year. The Tourism department has, however, conceded a ‘meager fall’ in foreign arrivals this ongoing season.
Data from the Tourism department reveals that Goa hosted a total of 40,58,226 domestic and international tourists from January to December 2014 as against 31,21,473 tourists in 2013. Out of the total, 35,44,634 were domestic tourists while the remaining 5,13,592 were foreign arrivals in 2014, whereas 2013 had 26,29,151 domestic tourists and 4,92,322 foreigners.
“The statistical graph showing a 30 per cent increase in tourist arrivals for 2014 reinforces our stand that Goa is a preferred holiday destination in the world and will continue to be one every passing year,” Director Ameya Abhyankar said.
Interestingly, even as shack operators and hoteliers complain about deteriorating tourism season, Tourism Department claims that the months of October, November and December 2014 showed an increase in domestic tourist arrivals by 62 per cent. This is supported by statistics with 19,70,792 domestic tourist arrivals in 2014, as against 12,19,872 domestic tourist arrivals during the same period in 2013.
The drop in foreign tourist arrivals for the same period is also very meager, Abhyankar added since 2,30,811 foreigners arrived between October and December 2014 as against 2,32,874 in 2013.
Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar asserted the fall in foreign tourists is a temporary phase. “The (overall) data is very encouraging. As far as foreign tourist arrivals are concerned there has been a drop in charter arrivals but this is a temporary phase arising from the geopolitical scenario in Europe. We are focusing on newer markets across the globe and will see a rise in footfalls in the months to come,” he claimed.
