TTAG submits recommendations to boost tourism in Goa

While expressing worries over the decreasing foreign visitors, Goa's tourism body in its recommendations has suggested various measures to the state government to boost tourism.

Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), an apex tourism body in the state, after holding several consultative meeting prepared a 'white paper' which was submitted to state Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar on Thursday.

The suggestion includes reduction in taxes which makes the Indian coastal state, an expensive destination.

The detailed white paper points out that the financial year 2018-19 saw a 50 per cent decline in Russian charter flights and 62,000 lesser Russian tourists in 2018-19 as compared to 2017-18.

In the period from 2017-18, airport arrival and departure figures saw a decline of more than 21 per cent, it states adding that "while domestic tourism has seen an upswing of 25 per cent to 30 per cent, the appreciable drop in average room rates and occupancies across Goa, indicates a fall in the quality of domestic tourism."