Goa redefines tourism

Goa Tourism Development Corporation has a two-pronged strategy for the growth of numbers – more tourist facilities at beaches and promotion of health tourism and its hinterland areas.

TT Bureau

Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) is now looking to promote the state beyond its beaches, and Dayanand Raghunath Sopte, Chairman, GTDC, says that the team is working hard to promote tourism to the state. “Our vision is totally different when it comes to tourism. We are trying our best with the help of the Central government to provide all services and not just beaches. Hinterland tourism and health tourism will also be our focus now to provide a more comprehensive package to those visiting,” he shares.

We are trying to bring in more tourists from Russia this year; we are hoping that a relaxation in visa fee and the GST slab would help revive numbers

Sopte adds that though in the last two years the number of international arrivals to Goa has reduced, the last six months have witnessed a rise in both domestic and international arrivals to the state. “We have already started working on offering them various services and facilities that are required at beaches, such as public conveniences and changing rooms,” he claims.

With a decline in the number of Russian tourists to Goa in the last few years because of a reduced number of charter flights, Sopte says that this could also be because of facilities given by other countries like Thailand and Malaysia, which are not as expensive as those in Goa. “We are working on that issue and trying to bring in more tourists from Russia this year. Our tourist season has already begun and will continue till March. We are hoping that a relaxation in visa fee and the GST slab would help revive numbers,” he says. Sopte also reveals that they are adopting a plastic-free policy in their department, a practice that began at the GTDC office and will soon be followed in all GTDC hotels.