Goa puts up a magnificent show at the Bolsa Turismo Lisboa, Portugal

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

The Department of Tourism Goa, put up an impressive show at the Bolsa Turismo Lisboa Travel Market (BTL) Portugal, held at FIL – Feira Internacional de Lisboa atividades, Lisboa, Portugal from 1st to 5th of March, 2023. Every year, BTL brings together travel agencies, tour operators, tourism promotion offices from many nations, culinary tourism, and business travel goods and services to present their special offerings to the market and general public.

The tourism department had set up an innovative pavilion at the exhibition to promote the vibrance of Goan culture, history, cuisines, and much more, along with glimpses of various tourist spots around the state. This stall consisted of the glances that Goa has to offer. Shri Sanjeev Ahuja, IAS, Secretary of Tourism of Goa, inaugurated the Goa pavilion on the first day. Hon. President of Portugal, Mr. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, also visited the Goa pavilion. A large touch-screen panel was set up to provide the visitors at the stalls with a virtual visit to Goa via the Goa-360 degree website. The visitors at the stall also had a thrilling experience while exploring Goa through a VR Headset.

On the second day of the event, Shri Rohan Khaunte, Hon. Minister for Tourism, IT & EC and Printing & Stationery, Government of Goa met his excellency Mr. Manish Chauhan, the Indian Ambassador to Portugal at the Goa pavilion and primarily discussed socio-economic advancements to promote tourism. The minister also met Mr. Nuno Fazenda, State Secretary for Tourism and Commerce for Portugal, to discuss collaborative business interests at the trade fair and conducted meetings along with Shri Sanjeev Ahuja, IAS, Secretary of Tourism of Goa. Shri Rohan Khaunte also inaugurated the World’s first 360-degree video interactive website at the Goa Pavilion through which the visitors can either use hotspots that appear automatically as they gaze about in 360 degrees or click on a pop-up menu to go to a specific location specified on the landing page.

On the third day of the event, numerous people from industry came to pay a visit to the Goa pavilion with different points of interest. The visitors were amazed to spot the wonders of Goa and the department’s hospitality to welcome tourists from all over the world and embrace them as their people.

The officials of Goa Tourism also promoted upcoming festivals, such as- the Shigmotsav Festival and Chikal-kalo, encouraging the visitors at the stall to participate and enjoy the traditional festivals that bind the Goans in harmony. With the hope of making Goa an experienced and responsible tourism destination, the tourism department largely promoted sustainable tourism activities right from e-bike tours, spice plantation tours, Konkan explorers, regeneration of beaches, eco-resorts to bungee jumping, kayaking, and much more to an international level. Considering the commendatory responses from the international dignitaries, the event was indeed a successful one for Goa.

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