PANJIM: The Tourism Minister, Mr Nilkanth Halarnkar would lead a three-member official delegation of the state to the World Travel Market (WTM) in London that begins from Monday 8th November, where the state officials and the captains of travel and hospitality industry would make renewed efforts to woo back the tourists from United Kingdom.
Mr Halarnkar told this daily that the Goa team would use the opportunity to not only woo back the tourists from the United Kingdom but also attempt to bring in many more tourists from other parts of Europe by convincing the tour operators from other European countries to fly their clients to Goa.
Though Goa would be part of India pavilion at the oldest travel mart it has been allotted a separate stall within the pavilion that has an area of 44 square metres, where the tourism department and others would showcase the state’s tourism facilities.
Besides, the Goan authorities would organise three road shows. The first one would be at the WTM in London, while the second of the road shows would be held at Glasgow in Scotland and the last one would be at Belfast in Ireland.
Mr Charles Bonifacio, a former president of the Tours and Travel Association of Goa, told this paper that the effort of the tourism industry in the state would be to sustain and strengthen the bonds between the tourists(NT)
At The 2009 Travel Mart in London,The Goa stand was a shambles. I also subsequently heard that the amounts spent by delegates from Goa were inexcess of their budgets.Mickky \pacheco , the |Tourism Minister attended the Mart .but stayed seperately from the other Goa delagated.Miskky stayed at the Ritz Hotel.Obviously at Goa taxpayers cost.
ReplyDeleteFollowing this Mart there was a drop in Tourism.
Some blame goes to the Finiancial crisis.However the biggest issue was the issuing of Visas.It was shambolic.
Has this improved...I doubt it.
Many people I speak to have told me that they visit Goa for its natural beauty.However that is niw changing.
Some commentators on "Trip Advisor" commented sarcastically,that the River princess must still be there.They arent wrong.
These corrupt Ministers travelling around the western countries to antice tourism to Goa. Goa does not have a good record safeguarding foreign tourists from "non -Goan criminals,non- Goan sexual perverts" and "Goan and Non-Goan drug dealers". To add Goa has the filthiest and slinkiest slums as one of the tourists attractions. Until Goa is cleaned up of these unsavoury issues they should stop promoting tourism. At this moment in time compared to other tourist destinations Goa is no longer on the top 10.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic opportunity for Niz Goenkar. Three against three. Three members of Goan Tourism Minister and Three Memebers of Niz Goenkar in London. How I wish I could be there too. But then there will be complaints that they were outnumbered, so let me stay in peace where I am and follow the news.
ReplyDelete