BY DEBAJYOTI CHAKRABORTY
KOLKATA, 13 JULY 2024:
In a bid to further promote the tourism sector of the state , the Goa Tourism Department and Goa Tourism Development Corporation Limited are focusing on sustainability with ‘rejenerative tourism’ and ‘Ekadashha Teertha’, with the catch line ‘Goa Beyond Beaches’.
It is the first state in the country to introduce regenerative tourism.
In an exclusive interview to The Travel and Tourism Times, Mr. Deepak Narvekar, deputy general manager of Goa Tourism Development Corporation said that eyeing a record footfall both from domestic and international the Goa Tourism Department is taking several measures by introducing new facilities to further attract the tourists.
The Ekadasha Teertha yatra on 11 spiritual sites or temples , homestay policy, caravan policy, introducing adventure sports and heritage preservation are the main focus areas of Goa tourism at present.
It is in line with the vision of chief minister Dr. Pramod Sawant who is also the chairman of Goa Tourism Development Board , tourism minister, Mr. Rohan Khaunte and Director of Goa Tourism, Mr. Suneel Anchipaka.
“ According to our new home stay policy 100 new home stays have come up and another 100 bread to breakfast homestays have also come up. These bread to breakfast homestays are run not by the homestay owners. Besides airbnb is managing about more than 1000 properties, Goa tourism is also promoting its own 10 hotels,” added Mr. Deepak Narvekar.
About 30 to 40 percent of tourists from Bengal visit Goa every year. West Bengal is a big domestic source market for Goa Tourism. Mostly during the Durga Puja vacation and winter holidays the tourists from Bengal flock to Goa.
Several festivals take place throughout the year including the Wine Festival which has been named the Spirit of Goa in Colva in South Goa, Heritage festival in Saligao, Chikal Kalo Festival ( mud festival) in Dewri Krishna Temple in Marcel, Goa, New Year celebrations etc.
The Mopa Airport has already proved to be a game changer for tourism in the state and the aggressive campaigning of the tourism department has helped Goa to have one crore tourists footfall, including both domestic and foreign from 80 lakhs previous year. This year Goa is targeting to even break the previous record with still five more months to go.
The new adventure tourism services in Goa includes – Hot Air Baloon in Assalda, South Goa ( it will commence from October), Bungee Jumping at Mayem Lake, North Goa, Konkan Explorers, Sapura River, E bikes at Old Goa and Dubar island, River rafting at Valpoi, North Goa , scuba diving etc. Earlier many of these adventure tourism facilities were only available abroad and now Goa Tourism hopes to attract the youths further.
Goa tourism unveiled its vision for regenerative tourism, centered around eleven spiritual sites known as the Ekadasha Teertha. Over the next 36 months, the tourism department aims to implement a regenerative tourism model focusing on environmental restoration, cultural preservation, and community empowerment through four key paths: spirituality, indigeneity, civilizational and cultural nationalism, and conscious tourism.
Advertisement:
Add Comment