TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Learning from Kerala and Rajasthan, Goa is planning to attract tourists from Eastern Europe, Asia and emerging markets, by organising FAM (familiarization) trips for international travel and tour agents to market Goa overseas, by engaging an event company.
The tourism ministry through Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) is chalking out plans to try this experiment in the next year. “We are hoping to put this plan in place by February-March 2013 through an event agency,” a GTDC official disclosed.
According to the plan FAM trips are proposed to draw groups of travel agents from Eastern Europe, Asia and new markets to explore Goa as a potential tourism destination and market it in their respective countries by way of direct testimony.
“The FAM trips formula has been a success in Kerala and Rajasthan,” said this official pointing out that the travel and tour agents get to see the product and in turn market it to their cliental who can choose their holiday packages accordingly.
The FAM trips would market Goa as a destination for medical tourism, yoga and ayurveda, luxury or leisure tourism, hinterland and heritage tourism. The new avenue of pilgrimage and religious tourism is also being packaged.
“The FAM trips help to establish direct links between the industry and potential buyers and moots for competitiveness,” said this official.
The agency which will assist with FAM trips will help the tourism ministry to provide a one stop shop for all facilities such as providing visas, travel plans and other requirements.
“It is an important tool for reverse tourism marketing strategies,” explained this GTDC official.
