PANJIM, FEB 5: After years of selling its sun-kissed beaches to the world, Goa is looking for other attractions to display in the global travel mart.As a first step, Goa's tourism ministry is roping in private consultants to develop a master plan for tourism in the state. Four organisations -- Tata Consultancy Services, Tourism Advisory and Financial Services Corporation Ltd and Consulting Engineers Pvt Ltd are in the fray to help map Goa's tourism potential.The outfits finally shortlisted to conduct the study will identify areas having tourism potential and suggest appropriate type of promotional activities, says Ullas Kamat, director, department of tourism, Goa. ``At present tourism is concentrated only on the beaches while Goa's hinterland receives fewer tourists,'' Kamat told The Indian Express.
According to a brief prepared by Goa Tourism Development Corporation, the study will also look into the impact of tourist traffic on social and cultural aspects of society. The study will also suggestdevelopment of ancillary economic activities.
According to Kamat, the Goa government is keen on generating employment through tourism. As a result, the survey will advice the government on development of appropriate ancillary industries in the state. The study will also look into the long-term perspective of tourism. Attempts will be made to project tourist arrivals both foreign and domestic for the next 25 years. Similarly, the study will project the number of rooms required throughout that period. The Central and State governments have earmarked a sum of Rs 15 lakh for concluding the survey.
Incidentally, the number of tourist arrivals in Goa exceeded the state's own local population in 1997. According to figures available, domestic and international tourists arriving into India's smallest state amounted to more than 1.2 million. On the other hand the 1991 census estimated the state's population at slightly below this figure.
According to tourism department officials, the number of tourists arrivingvia charter flights during the October-May peak season have risen sharply in the past two years. For instance 11,363 foreign tourists visited Goa on charter in January 1996. In the corresponding months of 1997 and 1998 the figures jumped to 13,379 and 17,179 respectively.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
