'Egypt conflict, falling rupee good for Goa tourism'

The continuing conflict in Egypt and the weak rupee spells good news for tourism in Goa, according to Russian honorary consul in Goa, Victor Albuquerque.

"The next season promises to be good. The disturbances in Egypt and the falling rupee versus the dollar could result in Goa attracting more tourists," Albuquerque told IANS Wednesday on the sidelines of a press event in the capital.

Egypt, which used to be winter haven for a lot of European tourists has been riven with conflict over the last couple of years, first with the sweep of the Arab Spring (a populist revolt in the Arab world against dictatorial regimes) and the chaos that followed during the spell of the Muslim Brotherhood in power.

"Egypt has a lot of Russian and UK tourists. With the turmoil there, they may decide to switch over to Goa for holidays," said Albuquerque, whose hospitality empire in Goa caters to a huge chunk of Russian and other European charter tourists coming to Goa.

Both Russian and UK tourists are top of the pyramid as far as the half-a-million foreign arrivals are concerned in Goa during the months of October to March, considered as prime "season-time".

He also said the worsening dollar-rupee scenario which has seen the rupee fall to Rs.61-plus would also spell good news for the tourist sector because foreign tourists would be more inclined to visit India, where they could get more bang for their tourism buck.

"The rupee is expected to fall to 65 per dollar by October," he said, anticipating better foreign tourist arrivals to the state.

He, however, said Sri Lanka which had finally put decades of civil war behind it, was emerging as a competitor for beach tourism in Goa.

"They are going all out after all those years of war. Sri Lanka is emerging as our competitor now," Albuquerque said.