GCCI foresees impact on foreign tourist arrival

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2008-12-07
PANAJI- The managing committee of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which met recently to review the tourism and industrial scenario in the state, post 26/11 incidents in Mumbai, predicted that the state tourism could be severely affected, especially due to the increase in the rate of travel insurance included in the tour packages of the low-end tourists.
The GCCI president, Mr Nitin Kuncolienkar, told ‘The Navhind Times’ on Saturday that out of the annual 30 lakh tourists arriving in Goa, only 3 lakh are from other countries, and mainly consist of either low-end tourists taking benefit of the devaluation of Indian currency and hence, strength of their bargaining power, or those who stay in Goa for at least six months, for they find living standards in their respective countries higher than that in Goa.
The foreign tourists, who used to arrive in Goa, were being provided with a travel insurance cover amounting to 200 pounds, he said, adding, “However, this amount, after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai has been increased to 2,200 pounds, which in turn, has substantially hiked the 1,000 pound Goa package.”
Speaking further, Mr Kuncolienkar said the government is spending exorbitant amount in advertising Goa for international tourists, when they are only 10 per cent of the total tourist arrivals in the state. He also maintained that the government should have tried to attract more Indian tourists to Goa as they are well spending people and utilise more five-star hotels.
The foreign tourists will certainly defer their plans of touring Goa, this season, the GCCI chief predicted.
Speaking further, Mr Kuncolienkar said the foreign tourists arriving in Goa should show more responsible behaviour. “The two cases, one as regards the British teenager - Scarlet and another involving the German girl, showed little responsibility on the part of the mothers of the two girls,” he noted, pointing out that the media should not hype such incidents on international level.
As for the industrial sector in the state, the 26/11 terror attacks will have little impact on it as compared to the effect of the global recession, the GCCI president said. He further maintained that the stringent checks adopted by the Customs, like scanning of containers may have some affect on the transportation of good, observing, “However, we have to accept it in the larger interest of the nation.”
“The movement of the industrial cargo will ultimately go on,” he concluded.