TEAM HERALD GOA NEWS

PANJIM: The government proposes to spend a whopping Rs 18.25 crore on media promotion of Goa as a tourist destination both nationally and internationally.

This includes Rs 950 lakh for domestic media promotion and Rs 875 lakh for overseas media promotion during this year’s budget. This amount is proposed to be spent during the financial year 2012-13.

However the detailed media plan for the year has not yet finalised. This was disclosed by Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar  in written  replies  to the Goa Assembly today.

According to data furnished in 2009 -10   expenditures on media promotions was Rs 7.64 crore. In 2010 -11   as much as Rs 5.69 crore was spent and in 2011-12  Rs 11.45 crore.

It was pointed out that various other measures are also adopted to promote Goa tourism.

The tourism minister has disclosed that the tourism department along with travel and trade participate in domestic as well as overseas events to promote Goa in the domestic and overseas market.

Road shows are also organised and advertisements are released in print and electronic media.

The department prints brochures in English as well as in foreign languages which are distributed at domestic and overseas events.

Similarly it is proposed to constitute a tourism promotion board for promotion and development of all tourism related activities. 

The tourism ministry also proposes to engage in infrastructure development like Theme parks, Water Kingdoms, Aquariums and Oceanariums through private sector participation.

Mr Parulekar has further disclosed plans for creation of cluster development authorities to develop the requisite infrastructure and designated tourist clusters for several areas.

In addition, thrust is also proposed to be given to development of new areas like adventure tourism, health tourism, medical and wellness tourism, religious tourism, eco tourism, cultural, hinterland and backwater tourism.

Similarly setting up of golf courses and allied facilities are also proposed to attract more tourists  to Goa.

It is also proposed to develop coastal circuits at Colva, Baga, Miramar, Colvale, Vasco, Calangute etc under central financial assistance.

The minister has disclosed that the number of tourists who arrived in the state during the last three years  till date is  8,49,7738.