Tourism babus fly to Portugal before Goa gets a tourism minister

 VIBHA VERMA

vibha@herald-goa.com

PANJIM:  No this is not a heroic war effort, or participation in Operation Ganga to evacuate Indians from Ukraine. Nor is it an effort to land in a war-torn country to provide humanitarian help. In what is clearly a junket, Goa tourism officials have taken off for Lisbon. To promote tourism.

It begs the question. Was it needed now? And did Goa tourism officially really have to sell Goa to Portugal, the only country in the world that knows Goa better than any other country. And that too with money that the common man pays as taxes.

Though the pandemic continues and despite normal commercial flights not having started, tourism-related international junkets are back. The Tourism Department has often been in controversy over foreign junkets as most of the trips have yielded little business.

This time the department did not even wait for the new government to take office and there is no tourism minister appointed.

Sources told Herald that a handful of officials from the Tourism department and Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC)   to Portugal earlier this week to participate in the travel mart – Bolsa De Turismo Lisboa (BTL) Lisbon.

Sources told Herald that the department chose to promote tourism in a country that not only has a strong Goa connection but also historical, trade, and immigration links, which they said was absurd.

“The history of Portugal is full of trade and immigration from Goa. A sizeable number of Goans are settled in Portugal and some have even obtained Portuguese nationality. The Goan influence runs deep in Portuguese politics and various other sectors. Visiting the country to promote what is already known to the country is absurd,” a source, in the know of the ongoing trip, told Herald.

Ironically, the department purportedly distanced tourism stakeholders – a norm that is otherwise followed for any domestic and international promotions.

Likewise, the trip has so far not been made public even though participation is entirely at the cost of State exchequer – public funds.

“The stakeholders were informed somewhere around December 2021 that if the COVID-19 situation improves, the State would participate in the BTL Lisbon fair. However, nearly everyone was not aware of the tour until the news was leaked by some insiders last weekend. By this time, the tickets and accommodation were arranged for the department and GTDC,” sources said.

On the other hand, an official said that since COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted and the population is vaccinated, promoting Goa on a larger platform is the requirement. The official though had no reply on why Portugal was chosen and why not travel fairs in countries whose visitors are most sought by Goa.