Goa to lay stress on maximising revenue per tourist: Parulekar

Goa would henceforth focus on maximising revenue per tourist rather than laying emphasis on raising the number of visitors, state Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar told the State Legislative Assembly today.
The minister was responding to a question by Congress legislator Mauvin Godinho on Goa's sliding position on the domestic tourist arrival front.
Parulekar said that majority of domestic tourism is due to religious reasons or for meeting relatives and friends.
"The department will emphasise on planned increase in domestic tourist arrivals with focus on quality tourists through MICE (meetings, incentives and entertainment), weddings, leisure, heritage and hinterland tourism," he added.

"Mere increase in tourist numbers may put tremendous strain on existing infrastructure which may be counter productive to the state in the long run," the minister said, adding, "the focus will be on maximising revenue per tourist rather than gross revenue."
"The proposed tourism master plan will also focus on various measures for holistic and sustainable growth in tourist arrivals keeping in view the long term benefits to the state," Parulekar told the Assembly today.
As per figures tabled on the floor of the House, 22.01 lakh domestic tourists arrived in Goa for 2010, which was increased to 22.25 lakh for 2011 and 23.37 lakh for 2012.