In a bid to promote Goa as a destination during the monsoons and after, the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) will be taking part in the travel and trade fair at Kolkata (July 11), the International Travel Mart at Bengaluru (July 18) and another trade fair in Ahmedabad (July 31). This move by the government and industry comes at a time when hotels have already reduced their room rates, but yet failed to attract a large number of tourists. GTDC presently has an average of 60 per cent occupancy at its coastal residencies in Calangute, Miramar, Panaji and Colva. Most of the tourists are from North India, Kolkata and the North East. “We have been getting tourists due to conducive climate in Goa during the monsoons. It's cooler here in the rains,” said Benjamin Braganza, Managing Director, GTDC.
Ralph de Sousa, President, Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) said that many smaller hotels on Goa's coastal belt had kept a few rooms available for guests, but there were hardly any tourists. “What numbers we are getting at present are not enough. People are tightening their belts and not travelling much. |