In the same period, the number of foreign tourists increased from 4.50 lakh to 5.13 lakh, a mere 63,000.
Bills for two of the foreign tours to Berlin and Moscow in March 2015 are yet to be submitted by tourism Event Management Agency (EMA).
Justifying the huge expenditure, the government said that international promotion has helped the State bring in more foreign tourists, which went up from 4.50 lakh in 2012 (Jan to December) to 5.13 lakh in 2014. This is an increase of just 63,000 more tourists.
As per information tabled on the floor of the House on Wednesday, Parulekar and his colleagues from the Cabinet, BJP party and office, attended various tourism promotion events across the globe, which include the World Travel Mart (WTM) and road shows in 20 countries. The government has spent approximately Rs 16,83,21,948.
This includes payment to the EMA to the tune of Rs 16.52 crore and dearness allowance to the ministers and officials Rs 31.01 lakh. The expenses include dinners, travel, hospitality, petrol and all other expenses.
The travel marts and road shows were held in the countries like Dubai, London, Australia, New Zealand, Berlin, Moscow, Paris, France, Kathmandu, Singapore, Czech Republic, Germany, Russia, USA and others.
The question was tabled by Congress MLA Digambar Kamat.
Replying to another question raised by BJP MLA Michael Lobo and Congress MLA Vishwajit Rane, the government said that the objective of such international tours is to promote Goa in international markets and to offset the reduced tourist arrivals from traditional markets like Russia.
“The participation has yielded good results and an increasing trend has been witnessed in foreign tourist arrivals from 4.50 lakh in 2012 (Jan to Dec) to 5.13 lakh in 2014 (Jan to Dec) thereby benefiting the local economy,” Parulekar said.
“It is expected that FTAs will further increase in coming years as a result of professional marketing efforts and due to introduction of e-tourist visa facilities at Goa Dabolim Airport,” he added.
The minister said the road shows/exhibitions proved successful and helped showcase and promote Goa as a safe tourist destination in the sphere of cultural, leisure, weddings, adventure, music tourism, MICE watersports and hinterland, enabling sustained increase in tourist inflow. Goa emerged a winner of several awards and accolades within India and abroad due to the departments’ aggressive marketing efforts.
