Saturday, June 15, 2019
The US has been dropped from Goa Tourism’s list of marketing and promotional activity destinations.
Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) chairman Dayanand Sopte mentioned that there is no point in marketing Goa in the US when footfalls from the long-haul destination are minimal.
China also could not favour the tourism board.On Friday it was discussed by the state-level marketing and promotion committee the destinations and events it should participate in those which should not be considered.
According to Sopte who is also a committee member the state’s participation in any international road show or international trade fair should be decided after considering all factors like if the markets or countries will bring tourists in big numbers.
Sopte said that they decided not to participate in certain countries because experience has shown that despite spending crores of rupees, the resultant footfalls were not impressive.
They did not have many US tourists visiting Goa. Was it worthwhile then to spent over Rs 1 crore to promote the state there?Sopte had already discussed his plans with GTDC managing director Nikhil Desai. Earlier Goa Tourism has faced severe criticism over its choice of destinations and promotional activities.
Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) in its white paper to tourism minister Manohar Ajgaonkar earlier this week mentioned that Goa Tourism lacks a strategic, innovative and sustained marketing campaign.
There will be a masterplan in place and new markets should be identified along with fact-based planning and joint task force to manage affairs was also required.
