TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Goa may have high expectations this Carnival, but the State is likely to witness a marginal decline in the tourists footfall owing to the postponement of the Food and Cultural Festival, which was earlier slated from February 13 to 17.
Officials in the tourism department confirmed that around 3.5 lakh tourists are expected for Carnival 2015, which would probably have crossed 5 lakh had the other festival not been deferred due to the Panjim by-poll.
“Since the Food and Cultural Festival is deferred, we expect a drop in the number of tourist arrivals compared to last year. But, we, nonetheless, will get a good number of attendees for the entertainment shows at all locations,” the official said.
Goa is set to host the annual Carnival on Valentine’s Day this year, the theme of which would revolve around Cupid and Love, Love Goa and Celebrate with Goa. The float parade will begin in Panjim on February 16, and be held at Margao, Vasco, Mapusa and Ponda on the following days.
The government recently announced deferring the dates for Food and Cultural Festival due to the enforcement of the code of conduct for Panjim by-polls. “Since liquor will be served at the festival venue and it is coinciding with dry days, we have postponed the festival to April. Dates will soon be finalized. Moreover, it is also not proper because of the Mahashivratri festival on February 17,” Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar had told Herald.
“If the coinciding event was not cancelled, the State could have witnessed a huge number of tourists in that one-week. Not that we would not get tourists but the strength of arrivals would be lower than usual,” a senior official told Herald.
TTAG President Francisco Braganza said that Carnival always attracted domestic tourists as it was never meant for international visitors. “This, like in other past years, is not an exception. It is for domestic tourists and not international,” he said.
Despite this disappointment, the tourism department is aiming to ensure that Carnival gives visitors the essence of traditional Goa by prominently having brass bands perform, colourful décor, Carnival caricatures and cultural performances at various places.
