Deccan Herald Thursday, July 17, 2003 Goa plugging for aggressive tourism strategy Devika Sequeira DH News Service PANAJI, July 16
With serious competition cropping up from other States, Goa is plugging for a more aggressive marketing strategy to sell its highly popular beach destinations to new markets abroad and at home. It will play host to over 300 international tour operators and travel writers, expected to turn up for the first ever Goa Tourism Meet from October 6 to 8. Union Tourism Minister Jagmohan and the Minister of State for Civil Aviation Rajiv Pratap Rudy, would be attending the inauguration. The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and tourism stakeholders pointed out that a "more focussed" approach is required to sustain the industry, which directly employs 20 per cent of the State's population and accounts for 15 per cent of its GDP. "Russia, China, Scotland, Sweden, these are just some of the countries whose potential we have hardly touched," says GCCI member, Manguirish Pai Raikar. Travel operators from these countries will be specifically targeted during the three-day interaction. The meet, which will focus on Goa's brand position in the global market and problems of connectivity, apart from other issues, is expected to make way for a more ambitious Goa Tourism Mart, on the lines of its major rival, Kerala. With Rajasthan and Kerala, Goa is among India's top three tourist destinations. Rajasthan manages to attract one-third of the 2.6 million foreign tourists who travel to India, followed by Kerala and Goa. A boost in domestic travel helped Goa notch 1.5 million arrivals last year, of which 2.7 lakh are foreigners. There was nonetheless scope for expansion, argued Goa Tourism Development Corporation MD Pramod Shetye. He said Goa needed to shift from its concentration as a beach destination to other areas to remain a front runner in the race. "We could become a hub destination for circuits to other states." Goa-Hampi-Badami is to be projected as a circuit at the tourism meet. ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
