In order to make Goa a 365-day destination and keep the tourism industry rolling during the off season, Goa Tourism recently organised a two city roadhsow in Delhi NCR region to draw tourists during the monsoon. “We have decided to have roadshows and publicity campaigns across eight states from mid-June onwards to invite domestic tourists in Goa during monsoon,” Nikhil Desai, Director of Goa Tourism, said. . The department is currently focusing on North India with multiple roadshows planned in Chandigarh, Shimla, Jalandhar, and Amritsar in the coming months, ending with Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar in Gujarat.
According to him, Goa Tourism is exploring all means to attract tourists, right from holding campaigns to use of social networking websites. “We want people to explore Goa during the non-peak months from April to October. We have launched special contests on Facebook, where winners are offered packages in Goa,” he said.
Goa Tourism, with the help of travel trade fraternity, is offering discounted package to draw tourists during the monsoon.”We have partnered with tour and travel agents. Tourists can expect a 25-30 percent drop in the prices of packages. The private and state run hotels have offered special packages for the season. Goa is at its best during this time of the year,” he added.
Meanwhile, Goa Tourism Development Corporation ( GTDC) has launched several new attractions like white water rafting in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, he informed. “The state is also promoted as monsoon wedding destination and for MICE tourism,” Desai said.
As part of the campaign, Goa Tourism also organised three-day Goan Fest at Dilli Haat in New Delhi where it showcased Goan handicrafts such as jute items, ceramics, patch and clay work. The Fest also saw stalls by hoteliers and tour operators to inform visitors about special packages offered by Goa Tourism, especially during the monsoon season. There were nature trails, rafting trips and festivals like San Joao and Bonderam that tourists could choose from.
According to Desai, around 24 lakh domestic and five lakh international tourists visited the state last year, showing an increase of 4.4 per cent in the inflow. The government is now focusing on new markets such as Gulf, South East Asia, Australia, USA and New Zealand. Goa also had the highest charter arrivals of 1,020 till April 30, 2013, whereas for the corresponding period in the previous season, 900 charter flights landed in Goa.
