Goa to Target Tourists from Australia, United Arab Emirates

Panaji: Faced with a slump in the tourism industry, Goa wants to attract tourists from Australia and the United Arab Emirates as part of its geographical marketing strategy articulated in the state’s Tourism Master Plan and Policy. According to a written reply tabled during the ongoing monsoon session of the State Assembly, Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar said that the state government was focusing on high domestic spending and international tourists. “Depending on identifying new opportunities, further diversify to markets such as Australia through a multi-product destination where cultural tourism would play a major differentiation role,” Ajgaonkar said in his written reply quoting the draft tourism policy being prepared by the consultancy agency, KPMG. The reply also said that there was a need to tap into the markets for ‘short breaks and holidays’ with new direct flights from the Middle East. Currently, tourists from Russia top the inbound tourist arrival charts, even as British tourists rank second. The assurance comes at a time when the state tourism industry is facing a trough. (IANS)

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