Tag Archives: Goa Tourism

To increase the number of foreign tourist arrival, stakeholders in Goa tourism are looking at China to tide over the slump in the arrival of inbound tourists. A six-member delegation from China is scheduled to arrive in Goa to prepare content and guide the Goa tourism department and stakeholders on how to promote the coastal state in Chinese markets, which is virgin territory for the state’s tourism industry. Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) president Savio Messias said that there is a downfall in international tourist arrivals in Goa by almost 30-40 per cent. “There are several factors responsible for this phenomenon, and one of them is shutting down of Thomas Cook, UK, which was flying charters in Goa,” he said. “Promotions in China are different from the rest of the world. They don’t use Facebook, Google or Whatsapp. We will have to design websites in the Chinese language to reach to them,” he said. Goa attracts around four lakh international visitors every year, whose number has gone down significantly in the last two years. Russia and Britain are two traditional markets for Goa.

In an effort to showcase its festivals, Goa Tourism is all set to conduct two of its most captivating events – the Grape Escapade  and Goa Vintage Car & Bike Festival 2018 in the second fortnight  of April 2018. The lifestyle and wine festival organised by Goa Tourism through Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), the ‘Grape Escapade 2018’ will be held from April 19-22 at the D B Bandodkar Ground, Campal, Panjim. The four-day event is expected to draw lakhs of tourists in view of the on-going summer vacations. Over the years, Grape Escapade has provided a platform for local enterpreneurs to share expertise, display products, engage in B2B, and offers tourists and Goans an opportunity to savour on flavours from the vineyard, taste Goan food and experience Goa’s traditions and culture. The festival brings together a host of professionals from the tourism hospitality industry like hoteliers, restaurateurs, wineries and manufacturers to showcase their premium offerings. The Goa Vintage Car & Bike Festival 2018 will hit the streets  of Panjim on April  29, 2018 at the INOX Courtyard from 10.00 am onwards. Various vintage bike and car owners, users, collectors and fans will parade along with their prized possessions around Panjim. The vintage bike and car rally will route from INOX courtyard  to  Miramar Circle and further proceed to Divja circle and head back to  INOX Courtyard where they will be on display till 6.00 pm.

Goa Tourism will organise the annual Goa Carnaval from February 25-28, 2017 in Panjim. The state will come alive to celebrate the four-day event with spectacular float parades, Carnaval festivities and an array of events and activities. The float parades will take place in four cities of Panjim, Margao, Vasco and Mapusa. The government has formed various Carnaval committees and drawn up guidelines for smooth conduct of the four-day festivities. In addition to maintaining the traditional and cultural essence of Carnaval, this year the focus is weeding out non eco-friendly floats, polluting vehicles and a total crackdown on indecency.

The Vintage Bike and Car festival 2016 is set to be an annual event as the first edition of the event organised by Goa Tourism and Goa Tourism Development Corporation concluded in Panjim. A record participation of 83 vintage cars and 40 vintage bikes set the streets of the capital city roaring as the vintage automobiles made their way down memory lanes on a two-hour long rally. Minister for Tourism, Dilip Parulekar flagged off the rally at Paryatan Bhavan this morning in the presence of Nilesh Cabral, Chairman  of  GTDC and other dignitaries and officials. Parulekar said, “It is overwhelming to see such a huge participation at the Vintgae Bike and Car festival 2016 and should be an annual event that will boost tourism in the State of Goa. Goa Tourism and GTDC organise such unique events in the State to promote tourism and the Vintage Bike and Car festival will help boost heritage tourism in a big way.”