Plans needed to sustain tourism in Goa: study

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2008-12-06
MARGAO- The study by the Goa Institute of Management on ‘Tourism sector in Goa: future growth and challenges’ has raised concerns over Goa not sustaining the tourist traffic during the last three years. The report also pointed out that the carrying capacity of the state is likely to be saturated by 2012 if there are no plans to enhance the capacity.
The report was released by the Governor, Dr S S Sidhu at the Goa economic summit 2008 on tourism, which was organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, the state government and the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa.
The study pointed out that without additional facilities it is expected that the capacity will be saturated by 2012. Hence it is imperative that the state has plans and should implement them if the state has to maintain the growth movement of tourism in the state.
The report said that even though there has been acceleration in the growth of tourist traffic in the initial five years since 2000 and the number of visitors went up by about 12 lakh during 2000-04, an average rise of about 2.5 lakh per annum, however the growth momentum was not sustained during the last three years.
The study further pointed out that the tourism sector in Goa contributes significantly to the growth of the state domestic product through creation of employment opportunities and improvement in investment on capital goods. The report has stated that the foreign tourist arrivals seem to have plateaued out during the last two years largely because the hotels and tariffs have become uneconomical when compared to proximate destinations like Thailand, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
It has also pointed out that the transportation by taxis is another critical area that makes tourism in Goa expensive and it is necessary that the government asserts its authority to regulate this aspect with more systems of mass transportation and the introduction of metres on the taxis to assist tourists being confident of the fare they pay.
It further stated that due to the absence of quality infrastructure, attracting a substantial volume of high spending tourists may not be feasible. Given their budget constraints, usually the tourists aim at maximisation of satisfaction. This is facilitated through ranking of destinations based on certain parameters including perception about the destination, proximity from the airport to the hotels, from the hotels to the entertainment centres or other tourist attractions, and so on.
It further added that on account of substantial improvement in the tourist traffic during the last few years the existing facilities have almost got saturated and added that there is an immediate need for expansion of the existing facilities at the Dabolim airport to cope up with the traffic demand for the next 10-15 years to increase the level of airport activity.
The report further pointed out that the tourism traffic in Goa is decidedly seasonal due to the monsoons, and the principal attractions are the beaches and added that persistent efforts to sell Goa in the rains have had positive results. It said that diversifying the tourist attraction to a more diversified portfolio has had less success, while items of historical and cultural interest have not yet become great attractions. Also inland and inland water attractions have not yet adequately taken off.
It said that aspects like spice gardens seem to have picked up well and suggested that trekking along the foothills of the Western Ghats is an aspect that has potential for attracting a different sector to tourists. It also suggested that the Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary could be enhanced and upgraded. Further the report also highlighted the need for setting up of a marina, which could most certainly attract European yachts. It said that a marina and an aquarium have been talked about for sometime now without any follow-up actions.
With regard to the beach tourism, it said that the facilities provided in Goa leave much to be desired and added that there appears to be a general lack of order on the beaches in terms of beach shacks, and couches, no shower cubicles, inadequate number of well-trained lifeguards and related safety equipment.
The report has recommended that the best way to promote tourism in Goa is to create an autonomous tourism board and should have the authority and responsibility to implement the schemes within the agreed time-frame and must definitely include a representation of all stakeholders including travel and tourism committees, CII, GCCI etc.
It also suggested that setting up of a gold course one in North Goa and South Goa is critically needed for any tourist destination that seeks to attract a higher spending tourists. The report said that raising the levels of tourism attractions which must essentially attract more high spending tourists rather than budget tourists that are currently the mainstay of tourism in Goa.