PANJIM: The Empowered Committee of Goa Tourism Board on Marketing and Public Relations on Thursday laid out a plan to establish the State as a premier spiritual destination.
In its 11th meeting, the committee discussed various efforts to be made by the Department of Tourism, which will attract visitors from all over the world to seek spiritual experiences across the State.
“Today the 11th Committee Meeting took place with a main focus on Marketing and Public Relations to ensure that people who visit can see the spiritual side of Goa along with wellness activities. Direct flights from Mopa Airport for locations such as Uttarakhand, Dehradun, Nagpur and Guwahati will bridge the travel divide between Uttarkashi and Dakshin Kashi, to enhance tourism and connectivity and will attract more tourists in Goa,” Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said.
The Tourism Minister announced a conclave in October this year that will serve as a platform for engaging with influencers and stakeholders in the tourism industry.
The conclave is aimed at building meaningful connections and foster collaboration to develop spiritual circuits, including yoga, wellness, and other spiritual experiences.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the Government of Goa and Temple Connect, a prominent organisation dedicated to promoting Spiritual Tourism.
Khaunte said that to celebrate the upcoming Shiv Jayanti, festivals will be organised in six cities across the State namely Vasco, Margao, Ponda, Panjim, Mapusa and Bicholim. The festival will showcase the rich cultural heritage of Goa and attract visitors from near and far.
The minister said there was a possibility of hosting commercial sponsorship for Ironman 70.3 based on the great response received.
Through this, the government aims to boost sports tourism and attract athletes and sports enthusiasts from around the world to participate and witness these events, Khaunte said.
Girish Kulkarni, founder of Temple Connect, said, “Digitising content about temples and organising events can help in documenting and preserving the rich cultural heritage of these sacred places. It also opens up new opportunities to showcase smart temple management practices and create awareness about the importance of temple conservation. By promoting exposure to important temples and historic sites, we can encourage tourism and contribute to the development of infrastructure and ecosystem in Goa. Additionally, increasing engagement through various activities can attract more visitors, thus boosting footfall to Goa,” he said.
