Goa expects a flood of tourists

Last year, Goa had a 55 per cent growth in tourist inflow during monsoon and it expects to improve on the figures this year. The Goa Tourism department is upbeat about this. The Tourism department has published this surge of tourists in 2016 between June and September - this period used to be known as lean season by the industry. However, aggressive marketing and promotion, has changed the picture.
This has been reported in thestatesman.com dated 28 June 2017.

Goa is known the world over as a beach destination because of its 105-kilometre-long beach which attracts lakhs of visitors, both domestic and foreign. The growth in monsoon tourism has got a boost because hotels offer special packages and the number of monsoon activities have also increased. Goa Tourism Development Corporation has introduced activities like trekking, white water rafting, monsoon festivals, special monsoon cuisine, trips to picturesque locales, biking, waterfall visits and others to woo visitors.
The introduction of new train services like Tejas and the Maharajah Express are also helping to bring in more tourists from neighboring states. A recent survey by a website has declared Goa as India's most popular monsoon travel destination among Indian travelers for 2017.


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3rd Goa Kite festival to be held from 17 January 2017

Goa will hold the 3rd Kite festival in Miramar beach from January 17 to 18. The festival is set to paint the skies with vibrant hues as kites of various shapes and sizes take to the skies over the beach. It will have participants from 12 countries apart from India.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 12 January 2017.

Goa is keen to showcase its positives to international fliers and will play the perfect host so that the participants come back for another successful edition next year.
The highlight of this year will be stunt kites. There will also be night kite flyers who will begin their flights from 6pm onwards. And, in order to encourage little ones in the practice of kite-flying, there will be nearly 2,000 kites distributed for free among school children who attend the festival.
A total of 21 Indian teams and 21 international kite-flyers from Canada, Estonia, Germany, Malaysia, UK, Russia, Brazil, Australia, France, Italy, Netherlands and South Africa will participate.


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Independence Day weekend in Goa to be a costly affair

Indications are there that a holiday in Goa, a tourist hot spot, for the extended Independence Day weekend could prove to be an expensive affair. Mumbaikars usually make up the largest chunk of weekend holidayers to Goa and they will have to shell out four times the regular fare to land in Goa on August 12 or 13.
The normal airfare from Mumbai to Goa is Rs 1,500 but, it will cost upwards of Rs 8000 on August 12 and 13. Similarly, the return fare will be in the region of Rs 6500 for journeys on August 15 and 16.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 9 August 2016.

Not only flights bit even bus fares are at a premium. The bus fare from Bengaluru and Mumbai to Goa usually costs between Rs 700 to Rs 900 for a seat in an AC bus - it will cost Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000. Those travelers from regions like Mumbai who decide to drive down to Goa, getting a suitable accommodation would be tough. Hotels that could accommodate last minute travel plans, the charges could be in the region of Rs 12,000-33,000 per night per room.
Flight tickets to Goa from any of the metros are priced three to four times their regular fare for the extended weekend starting August 12.


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Goa tourism - Casino Caravela to float on the River Mandovi

Goa is getting ready to welcome tourists - its first offshore casino is expected to re-enter the River Mandovi soon and it is labeled as the state's first five-star standard floating hotel-cum-casino. It had been removed for refurbishing in May 2013, Caravela was moved out of the River Mandovi for refurbishing and renamed M V Royal Flotal.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 15 June 2016.

Everything is in an advanced stage. Permission has been granted to M V Royal Flotal to ply in Goan inland waters, and the ship has already entered the Cumbharjua canal. The Deltin group is now waiting for permission to moor before it can begin its operations.
The Deltin Group has indicated that the luxury vessel has been designed to attract the "creme de la creme" high-end tourist and the main aim is to pamper to the high-end sector of tourists and give the tourism sector a major boost in terms of high-spending visitors. Incidentally, Casino Caravela has a total of 8 suites. Each of these is of an average size of 500-plus square feet and equipped with all modern amenities. In addition, there are two super-luxurious duplex suits, an open to the sky, air-conditioned restaurant on the sundeck, jacuzzi, spa and library.
At present, Goa has four offshore casinos - two each belong to the Delta Group and the Pride Group.


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Goa to expand its tourism potentials from sea beaches to rivers

Goa is known the world over for its sea beaches and, since its crowded beaches are crunching under pressure of growing footfalls, the state now wants to explore the tourism potential of its rivers. In the opinion of Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, a tourist who lands at Dabolim (international airport) should be able to head for Panaji or Calangute by a boat instead of by road alone - this will be an added attraction for a tourist coming to Goa.
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 18 April 2016.

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government in Goa wants to start water parks tourism and river-based transport systems and, does not want to bank too much on funding from the state or central governments - it would try to scout around for the right investors who can bring in the money and the technical expertise to execute such projects.
The priority will be towards waterways and develop waterfronts like the Chapora river and, from Chapora to Colvale (villages located along the course of the river), points (of tourist interest) could be developed. Goa has a number of main rivers like the Mandovi, Zuari, Chapora, Sal and the Kushwati. It also has several smaller rivers that criss-cross the state, especially in the hinterland areas. These do not have a healthy tourism profile and, that needs to be improved.
Incidentally, Goa attracts nearly four million tourists every year and half a million of them are foreigners.


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India has three best beaches in Asia - the Agonda and Palolem in Goa and Radhanagar in the Andamans

As per data generated by a popular travel website, India can boast of having three of the top 10 beaches in Asia favored by travelers. The beaches are Agonda, Palolem (both in Goa) and Radhanagar on the Havelock Island in the Andamans. India has an extensive coastline and is dotted with beautiful stretches of sand and getting recognition is a great feeling.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 28 February 2016.

Travellers' Choice Award-winning beaches have been determined based on the quantity and quality of traveler reviews and ratings on the website gathered over a 12-month period. This year's awards honor a total of 343 beaches, including the top 10 in the world.
Three of India's beaches have found a place in the list of top 10 beaches in Asia.
Agonda beach (Goa) has been ranked at number four position in the Asia top 10 list, mostly for being wide, quiet, picturesque and a great spot for sunbathing and relaxing with relatively few tourists around.
Palolem beach, also of Goa, has been ranked 8th in the list for its beach hut accommodations. It stretches between two magnificent head lands and is lined with towering coconut palms and is largely unspoiled. It is inhabited by local fishermen and foreign tourists alike.
Radhanagar Beach on the Havelock Island in the Andamans is ranked at number 10 in the list for its stretch of white sand with picture perfect waters lined with palm trees.
No 1 beach in Asia is Ngapali beach in Myanmar, it is followed by Nacpan Beach in Philippines and Kata Noi beach in Thailand. Then comes Yapak beach in Philippines at number five, followed by Nai Harn beach in Thailand at number six and Sunrise beach in Thailand at the seventh spot, with Otres beach in Cambodia at number nine.
Unfortunately, none of the Indian beaches feature in the category of the world's best beaches. In this ranking - Grace Bay beach in the Caribbean is world's number one followed by Baia do Sancho beach in Brazil and Playa Paraiso beach in Cuba.


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Double decker Shatabdi Express train to run between Mumbai and Goa

Railway Minister has announced the plan to stat a double decker Shatabdi Express between Mumbai and Goa. Once operational, it would be India’s first ever double decker Shatabdi Express. The minister made the announcement on the sidelines of a program at the Goa University.
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 24 October 2015.

When asked about a special Goa Rajdhani Express train, he remarked that he will "definitely look into it". Those from Goa who want to avail of Rajdhani luxury train services have to rely on the Trivandrum Rajdhani which passes through Goa and has a halt at Margao in South Goa.
The minister also indicated that keeping in mind tourists coming to Goa, the Railways could also consider starting holiday train for tourists. Like an IRCTC holiday train.
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Bikini war – should these be banned in Goa which is touted as a tourist destination?

Bikini war hots up in Goa because it has been touted as a beach destination to attract foreign tourists and, it is but natural that they would wear bikinis. Goa is popular with European tourists – they come here to enjoy the beaches and the mild winter sun in the period from late October to March because that coincides with the harsh winter in Europe.
However, the BJP ministers of Goa appear to be at loggerheads on the issue of bikinis – Europeans are accustomed to wandering about in bikinis on the beaches and would not like to change their styles while in Goa.
This has been reported in zeenews.india.com dated 14 August 2015.

In the opinion of PWD minister Sudin Dhavalikar wearing of the two-piece bathing garment or bikini as it is popularly known, is against his culture! He has threatened Dilip Parulekar, the tourism minister that he would take up the issue with chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar.
In the words of Parulekar, he has never said no to bikinis – bikinis could be worn on beaches as well as in swimming pools but not in supermarkets or temples. However, last August, the stand of both Sudin Dhavalikar and Deepak Dhavalikar of the BJP-led coalition government was for a ban bikinis because it was against Indian culture.
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‘Swachh Bharat’ – Goa Chief Minister says if people co-operate, Goa will be clean by 2017

#SwatchhBharat #sulabh #LaxmikantParsekar #Goa #CM The novelty of Swachh Bharat appears to be gradually wearing off and Amir Khan’s ads coupled with ads of Vidya Balan to promote the concept of a clean India is not having the desired effect. Garbage spilling on to the roads is a common sight even after the formation of a new government at the center and photo-ops of celebrities taking up the broom have vanished from sight.
In this connection the remarks of Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar deserves a mention. He has said that Goa has provided toilets to 72% households, but, slums pose a challenge. He has accepted the fact that co-operation is of utmost importance. In his opinion, a solution can be found if all work collectively.
He has also admitted that people often obstruct construction of Sulabh toilets (cheap pay-and-use toilets) even where these have been sanctioned. Therefore, many such toilets remain incomplete in parts of Goa and there are instances where sewage is discharged into open nullahs or drains.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 31 March 2015.

He has also announced that Goa can surely do it if each household cooperates. He was talking on national rural drinking water and sanitation awareness program.
The central government has fixed October 2, 2019, as the target date to achieve 'Swachh Bharat' (Clean India) but Goa has advanced it to October 2, 2017 – that is two years earlier. Echoing the sentiments of the Chief Minister, PWD minister Ramkrishna 'Sudin' Dhavalikar has added that Goa's advanced deadline for 'Swachch Bharat' can be easily be met if every citizen contributes in keeping Goa clean.

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