The Hindu Business Line : Goa’s tourism sector seeks Govt help to revive its earlier promotion campaign

Concerned over the growing and effective promotion by Goa’s new competitors in the South-East Asia in European markets, considered its major traditional markets, Goa’s tourism industry has petitioned the State Tourism to help industry revive its earlier successful promotion campaign for international as well as domestic markets.

“It is time the Government joins hands with us to revive the “Go Goa 365 days holiday” campaign which had promoted Goa as a round-the-year holiday destination,” Mr Ralph de Souza, President of TTAG (Travel and Tourism Association of Goa), told Business Line on Sunday at the Founders’ Day celebration of the body which represents travel and tourism industry.

“Countries such as Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, their introductory rates and offers of facilities are very attractive, and they are capturing the European market,” said Mr de Souza as he spoke of the dim scenario for the tourism industry which is affected adversely in recent times by worldwide recession. Besides these, strife torn Thailand has floated very cheap packages in the market. Sri Lanka are back in business after the annihilation of the LTTE and is a direct threat to Goa.

Alerting the Government to the domestic threat, Mr de Souza referred to the concerted promotions and marketing of Kerala in the European markets specially in the UK, which he has described as a “worrying factor.” Goa, it may be pertinent to note, gets a huge number of repeat tourists, both chartered and others annually.

Revenues Down

Speaking about the present scenario, Mr de Souza said, “Revenues have declined this season definitely by 20 per cent on an average. Yes, occupancies are higher at this juncture too (monsoons), but that is because we are offering very attractive packages in tie-up with airlines or otherwise,” he said. Fortunately for the hotels of Goa, the airfares have not been increased in recent times, said Mr de Souza.

He, however, was optimistic of China as a new emerging market for Goa. But, wanted the Government, to assist the industry to do a lot of promotional efforts, to woo the Chinese.

The industry has urged the State tourism to help work-out an effective campaign to safe-guard our market share, increase the market share and highlight special features and offers of Goa.

While the State gets around four lakh foreign tourists annually, with a decline in chartered tourists, it is the domestic tourists (nearly 2 million) that had been helping the industry sustain in recent times.

Future chartered Scene Bleak

Mr Earnest Dias of Sita Travels told Business Line that coming season Goa could face a major decline in chartered flights from Europe, particularly from the UK. The only consolation, according to him, can come from rise in chartered flights from Russia.

Mr de Souza said the industry is apprehensive as the domestic market is dwindling by the day, as destinations in North East and Kashmir have opened up. They are aggressively marketing their product.

He said, we have suggested that the Government should revive the ‘Goa 365 days’ campaign, on the electronic media, metro papers and also take up campaign on FM stations in popular metro areas.

Infrastructure bottlenecks

Speaking about infrastructure bottlenecks, the TTAG has pointed out that the charter airlines have been asked to change their landing timings at Dabolim airpot of Goa for the coming season as the airport is under renovation.

As the slots by international airlines are obtained 1 to 1½ year in advance, obtaining an alternate slot from extremely busy European airports, specially Gatwick, Moscow, Frankfurt and others, is a near impossibility, as these airports experience back to back take offs and landings of flights.

Moreover, as the European airports are shut at nights, and, hence, all landings and take offs have to take place during the day.

The only solution is to ensure that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) maintain the existing schedule timings as alteration of timings will result in cancellation of flights, it has warned.

From nearly 750 chartered flights in recent years, Goa this year got only about 600 chartered flights that too with a reduced head-count.

The TTAG has said as of now the Nordic countries have already suspended their operations into Goa.

If AAI fails to stick to the earlier timings for charter landings and departures, then Goa will experience a total collapse of the tourism industry this coming season.

This has been made very clear by some of the leading charter operators.

The industry is also agitated about issues on domestic front such as garbage, poor infrastructure and contentious issues of taxation and ‘licence raj’.

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