ETW STAFF – New Delhi
In an effort to reach out to the trade in northern India, Goa Tourism had organised a two-day roadshow in New Delhi on June 14 followed by Gurgaon on June 15, 2013. As a part of the delegation, Dilip Parulekar, minister of tourism, Government of Goa, interacted with the travel agents today during the ‘Goa Evening’ gala that was organised for the agents along with some cultural performances.
The department had also organised a three-day cultural festival starting from June 13-15, 2013 titled ‘Goan Fest – 2013’ in New Delhi. It was inaugurated by Valsala Vijayan, deputy resident commissioner of Goa Sadan at Dilli Haat and was open to the public. Attendees were able to get a glimpse of the Goan culture through its art, handicrafts, local music, and authentic Goan cuisine.
The festival that received more than 500 footfalls on the first day itself, housed 16 stalls that highlighted Goan handicrafts such as jute items, ceramics, patch work and clay work. It also had stalls set up by hoteliers and tour operators from Goa to inform visitors about special packages introduced by GTDC and activities offered by Goa Tourism throughout the year, especially during the monsoon such as nature trails, rafting, and festivals like San Joao and Bonderam.
Goa Tourism is keen on tapping the huge base of domestic tourists by promoting the state during the non-peak months from April to October. The department is currently focusing on north India with multiple roadshows planned in Chandigarh, Shimla, Jalandhar, and Amritsar in the coming months, ending with Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar in Gujarat.
