Govt to promote tourism in China, Australia, Canada, Italy, South Korea

Team Herald

PORVORIM: With an eye on high spending tourists, the Goa Government will soon be undertaking marketing promotions in the countries like China, Australia, Canada, Italy, and South Korea among others so as to develop new markets and to encourage their visitors in the coastal state. 

The Tourism Department is expected to commence the heli-tourism, seaplanes, sky diving, Hop on Hop Off bus services and amphibious duck tours from the coming tourist season onwards. 

In a written reply submitted to the House, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte also said that the Department has commenced process of appointing world class PR agency to create positive image of the State among foreign and domestic tourists and also for conveying message of Goa being safe and responsible tourism destination.

In a pointed questions raised by Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, the Minister said that currently, Goa receives international tourists from United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, USA, Switzerland, Sweden, France, etc. which are mostly high spending tourists.

He said that as per UNWTO report, China, USA, Germany, UK, France, Russia, Australia, Canada, South Korea and Italy are top eight tourism spending countries in the world. 

“Goa Tourism will undertake marketing promotions in these countries so as to develop new markets and also encourage high spending tourists from these nations to visit Goa,” he said.

Khaunte said that the high spending tourists generally visit destinations offering luxury products such as golf courses, activities like heli-tourism, seaplanes, high end shopping malls and spaces, luxury stays, high end wellness activities, theme parks, etc with a high regard to safety and security of the destination. 

“Goa as a destination is attempting to reinvent and create high end attractions for the tourists so that overcrowding in tourist areas could be prevented and the State could benefit due to higher realisation from taxes, creation of employment opportunities etc,” he informed the House.

The Minister said to encourage entry of more international chartered flights and tourists in the State; Government has started bearing a part of parking and landing fees at Dabolim Airport. He said that commencement of Mopa airport, expected from September, will further give big boost to the tourist arrivals. 

Last year, Goa received only 22,128 international tourists, whereas 3,00,193 visited in 2020. In 2019, the number was at much higher side – 9,37,113. 

The Minister said that department has decided to collect tourist arrival statistics in electronic format from all registered category hotels, so as to arrive at accurate estimates of tourist arrivals in the State and necessary notification to that effect will be issued soon.