the goan I network
PANAJI
With numbers of foreign tourists plummeting, Goa is now looking to Australia to shore up footfalls of international travellers.
Tourism Minister Manohar (Babu) Ajgaonkar told the Goa legislative assembly in a written reply that its geographically strategic marketing policy envisaged in the Tourism Master Plan, tourists from Australia and the United Arab Emirates will be targeted. Ajgaonkar also said that high-spending domestic and international tourists are being targeted by his department.
The minister, quoting the draft tourism policy prepared by KPMG, said it is necessary to tap ‘short breaks and holidays’ markets by introducing new direct flights from Middle East.
Goa has seen a decline in arrivals of foreign tourists over the last couple of seasons and travellers from Russia continue to dominate and top the nationalists of tourists coming to the State. The Russians
have edged out the British tourists into second place over the last few years.
Ajgaonkar also said in the written reply the focus would be to rely on proactive marketing. He said the State will continue to focus on the countries from where travellers are currently coming to Goa as well as the domestic market, even as the higher spending segments will be given special attention.
While beaches and the coastal belt tourism will continue to be brand Goa’s mainstay, nature and culture tourism, will be worked on to add value to the destination, he added.
