Trouble in Middle East, floods in Kashmir may boost Goa Tourism: Parrikar

Goa may see a "substantial" increase in inbound tourists this season because of the conflict in the Middle East, tension in Southeast Asia and floods in Kashmir, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said Friday.

"Middle East is out, (there is) lot of trouble. In Indonesia, Thailand some uncomfortable zones are there. Srinagar is (also) out," Parrikar said, suggesting that tourist traffic may divert to Goa due to trouble in these regions.

He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a press conference held here.

Goa, one of the top beach tourism destinations in the country, attracts three million tourists annually, out of which half a million are foreigners.