Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Due to the strategic development, promotion and marketing initiatives of Goa Tourism in the aforesaid focus areas, Goa is among the very few states in country/ world to recover from the impact of COVID-19. The total tourist arrivals to Goa in the year 2023 is estimated to be 8.48 million, which indicates an increase of 17.9% over the previous year, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte informed the House on Wednesday.
The focus areas for enhancement of Tourism in the state with more interest in promoting less explored areas are:
Eco and Nature based tourism
Spiritual, Heritage & Culture
Adventure & SportsTourism
MICE & Wedding Tourism
Leisure and Entertainment
Wellness & Medical
Goan Waters (Coastal + Rivers)
Khaunte said that the initiatives undertaken are:
Eco and Nature based tourism:
– Launched Homestay policy.
– Launched Caravan tourism policy.
– MoU with Airbnb.
– E-bike tours
– Showcased Goa beyond beaches to 40 numbers of National media.
– Goa tourism has organized a Reel making competition to promote destinations of Goa under following themes:
• Treks of Goa
• Homestays of Goa
• Nature of Goa
– To promote Eco
– tourism activities, Goa tourism has appointed an operator for undertaking treks & trails at Dudhsagar waterfalls.
– Cotigao village has won bronze award for the BEST TOURISM VILLAGE from Ministry of Tourism, GOI.
Spiritual, Heritage & Culture:
– MoU with Uttarakhand Tourism. – MoU with Temple Connect.
– Participated in the first International Temples Convention and Expo held at Varanasi from 22nd
– 24th July 2023.
– Goa tourism has organized a Reel making competition to promote destinations of Goa under following themes:
• Spiritual tourism in Goa
• Cuisines of Goa
– Festivals like ChikalKalo& Sao Joao,Deepotsav, Heritage festival, Shigmo& Carnival, food & culture festival, Sri Ram Jyoti.
– ET Travel World Awards 2023 forFairs and Festivals state of the year.
Adventure & Sports Tourism
– EOI for NTS
– Bungee Jumping at Mayem Lake, Motor gliding and various other watersports in Goa.
– 3 tour agents have been empaneled by Goa Tourism for undertaking unique experiential tours like nature trails, heritage cruise, village walks, bird watching, culinary trails, camping & distillery tours.130 Yuva Tourism Clubs.
• Goa Tourism supported sports events:
• Ironman. – “RFC India” an International Off-Road Motorsport Competition from 22nd
– 29th July 2023. – Adventure Racing India Championship 2023
– part of ARWS- Asia series from 8th
– 10th Sept 2023
– Surf festival of Goa from 29th Sep to 1st Oct 2023
– 37th National games held in October 2023.
– Volleyball World Beach Pro Tourat Zuri White Sand Resort in South Goa from 19thOct 2023 till 22ndOctober 2023.
– World Table Tennis competition from 27th February 2023 to 5th March 2023.
– Sports tourism conclave to promote sports tourism in the State.
MICE & Wedding Tourism: Infrastructure Development:
– Convention Center being developed at Rua-De-Ourem Creek
– Developing a Mini-Convention center at Margao Various Tourism events undertaken by Goa Tourism:
– 4th G20 Tourism Working group meeting – G20 tourism ministerial meeting & session on Cruise tourism
– TVS Motosoul 2023 Bike event on 3rd & 4th March 2023
– Maruti India 2023 Exhibition from 4th
– 7 th April 2023
– Royal Enfield “Motoverse” 2023 event from 24th
– 26th November 2023
– India Bike Week on 8th& 9th December 2023 Policy Development & administrative support:
– 435+ beach weddings undertaken from Jan 2021 – December 2023
– formulated a draft MICE and Wedding Tourism
Leisure and Entertainment – Supported Sunburn Festival 2023
– Supported Echoes of Earth 2024 from 2nd Feb
– 4 th Feb 2024, a sustainable, green festival that celebrates music, art, and the environment.
– To attract leisure tourists, Goa Tourism promoted the tourism offerings in Dubai, London, Berlin, Japan, Lisbon etc.
– Goa hosted the Tourism delegation from Malaysia to promote leisure tourism
Wellness & Medical
– Signing a MoU with All India Institute of Ayurveda, Goa for Development and Promotion of Wellness and Medical Tourism in Goa is in process.
– Requested the central government for implementation of Digital nomad visa. – Goa is promoting Wellness & Medical tourism vide its social Media handles.
Goan Waters (Coastal + Rivers) – Goa tourism has organized a Reel making competition to promote destinations of Goa under the theme “Beaches of Goa” – Appointed private operator for operating Heritage Boat cruise at mandovi in Goa,
– Appointed private operator for Nautical tours in Goa – Development and inauguration of Dona Paula Jetty.
– Jetty Terminal Building development is in progress at Santa Monica Jetty, which shall become a prime attracting for tourists to undertake various river cruises – Goa was awarded by Outlook Travel awards 2023 for Best Beach Destination of India