ETW Staff– Mumbai
Goa has witnessed a record high of tourist arrivals during the months of June, July and August 2014. The state recorded 18 per cent increase in tourists for the three months against tourist arrivals during the same period in 2013. The rise in tourists is attributed to the introduction of safety and security measures, awareness created on hinterland, culture, monsoon and pilgrim tourism. The state has witnessed the highest percentage of tourist arrivals in the state during the monsoons which was earlier considered an off-season.
White water rafting which can be experienced in Goa only during the monsoons was a big success along with Goa InstaWalk where bloggers and influencers from all over the country were given an opportunity to showcase their passion for photography whilst experiencing the cultural and natural aspects of Goa. This was conducted in the months of June and August 2014 at Tambdi Surla and Arvalem waterfalls.
Festivals such as Sao Joao which is celebrated at the onset of the monsoon season by Catholics; and Bonderam, the flag festival which creates a carnival ambience and celebrated on the fourth Saturday of August every year at Divar Island further drew in tourists.
Ameya Abhyankar, director, department of tourism, said, “Rebranding and re-positioning of brand Goa as a land of all seasons and capitalising on the fact that Goa is the world’s only tourist destination that has the maximum contrasts in the smallest geographical space further notched up the numbers of tourists in the state during the monsoons.”
