Goa wants Israeli tourists to pray more, rave less

After serenading Russia for several years, Goa is now looking to woo Israeli tourists -- but those with religion on their minds and not drug-laced beach rave parties.

A 20-member delegation led by Deputy Chief Minister Francis D'Souza, which was in Jerusalem to pitch for a more comprehensive tourism-oriented relationship, returned last week with what they say amounts to boosting tourism ties between Goa and Israel.

According to an official who was on the official tour, Israel had agreed to appoint a nodal officer in Israel's tourism ministry who would look after Goa tourism as an additional portfolio.

"The assurance came after a presentation was made by the delegation to Uzi Landau, Israel's tourism minister," the official said.

Goa is one of the most popular beach tourism destinations in India and has been a favourite with young Israelis, who prefer the sunny, drug and rave beach parties for a vacation after their compulsory and gruelling stint in the armed forces.

But the several hundred narcotics-pumped, budget-travelling Israeli soldiers running amok in the coastal areas like Palolem and Agonda beaches in south Goa and beaches like Anjuna, Arambol in north Goa has not been something the state's tourism mandarins and hospitality majors are happy about.

The Goa Church too has described young Israeli tourists as debauchs who were instilling a bad influence on the local coastal population with their womanising and drug use.

The new overtures from Goa tourism to Israel are aimed at fundamentally re-inventing the calibre of the visiting Israeli tourist -- from those who love raves to those who are more keen on religion.

"Israel's tourism minister also assured Parulekar that he would try to establish direct flights from Israel to Goa for tourists interested in religious tourism," said an official statement from the tourism ministry here.

Goa is home to grand Portuguese-built churches, some of them even over 400 years old and a significant population of Roman Catholics for whom Israel is an ideal pilgrimage destination, with its rich Christian heritage which includes the holy city of Jerusalem.

A special presentation was also made by Manguirish Pai Raikar, a member of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on religious tourism prospects for both Goa and Israel.

Israel has been on Goa's radar for the last few months as far as development of the dairy and agriculture industry is concerned, with the state government looking to boost agriculture and dairy production.

The tourism thrust is only an additional measure by the state government, which is looking to not only diversify its tourism product as well as the inflow of foreign tourists, most of who hail from Britain and Russia.

Goa annually attracts three million tourists, out of which half a million are foreigners.