EDM festivals increase tourist inflow to Goa: Minister

Electronic dance music events like Sunburn and Supersonic help increase tourist inflow to Goa and promote the state as an international tourism destination, Tourism Minister Manohar Azgaonkar said on Tuesday.

Over five years (from 2012 to 2016), when the EDM festivals were held, the state government earned a total revenue of Rs 20.46 crore from the two events, the minister said in a written reply in the Goa legislative assembly.

"Such festivals are one of the factors for witnessing increase in the tourist arrivals," Azgaonkar said.

For over the last few years, Goa has evolved as a destination for EDMs especially during the festive season of Christmas through New Year, which attracts over six million tourists every year.

"These kind of events entice additional tourists, especially music lovers, during the festival duration to the state. It generates revenue to the exchequer as well as to the hoteliers, taxi and tour operators, locals etc. at large, engaged in rendering various tourism related services," Azgaonkar said.

"EDM festivals of high magnitude like that of Supersonic and Sunburn are widely publicised around the globe and telecast live in various parts of the world," he added.

"This publicity aids the state of Goa to attract new and quality tourists."

--IANS

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