Panaji, Jul 16 (PTI) From waterfall treks, nature trails and river rafting to relishing the culinary delights of the state, the Goa government is promoting tourism through specialised month-wise campaigns centred around different themes to attract visitors to experience the monsoon in the coastal state.
Its efforts appear to have yielded results as the tourism department has observed a noticeable rise in the number of tourists in June and the trend is continuing in July, say the officials.
State Tourism Director Kedar Naik said that from the beginning of the monsoon season this year, the tourism department began promoting the culture and festivals of the state.
“There has been a rise in the number of tourists visiting the state, especially the domestic travellers. A significant increase in the tourist footfalls was observed in the month of June, which has continued even in July. Although no collective figures are available yet, the feedback received from the industry stakeholders is encouraging. This is because we have curated campaigns throughout the monsoon season,” he said.
“We promoted São João festival and Chikhal Kalo (mud festival) using social media influencers and various social media campaigns, which has led to an increase in tourist footfall in the state,” he said.
São João festival, also known as San Janv, is a vibrant Catholic celebration held annually on June 24 to commemorate the birth of St. John the Baptist, while the Chikhal Kalo festival celebrates the childhood of Lord Krishna.
Similarly, the tourism department is promoting July as the ‘Month of Gastronomy’, wherein the department is highlighting the cuisines and restaurants across the state, where tourists can come and experience various types of restaurants available in the state, Naik said.
“In the same way, the month of August will be promoted as a Month of Experiences and Adventures, where we will encourage visitors to explore nature trails, plantation visits and various aspects of village tourism,” he said.
We will promote the month of September as the time to explore different attractions in Goa, including its forts, waterfalls, museums and scenic drives, Naik added.
While monsoon revives the waterfalls across the state, mostly in the forest areas, the waterfall at Harvalem in Sankhalim village of North Goa, is one of the major tourist attractions.
“We have been working in Goa for the past three years and enjoying its places. Today, we came to Harvalem waterfall, which is the best and very beautiful,” said one Santosh, who hails from neighbouring Maharashtra.
“We searched for it on the map and we enjoyed it a lot after coming here,” he said.
Akansha Gautam, a tourist from Delhi, said it was her first visit to the Harvalem waterfall.
“For me, monsoon is the best time to visit Goa. During the rains, you can do trekking, kayaking and boating. I tried all of them yesterday. For me, it’s the best time as it’s raining, so it feels very nice,” she said.
Saurabh Khanna, General Manager of The Park Hotels in Goa’s Calangute, said that while most guests think of Goa as a winter and beach destination, those who truly experience the coastal state know it is magical during the monsoons.
“The rains bring out a different kind of beauty in Goa. It’s romantic, it’s serene, and it’s soulful…We have seen a lot of people who love to come to Goa during the monsoon. We have a different set of travellers who especially enjoy the monsoon and ensure they come to enjoy the unique weather here,” he said.
“You may not really call the monsoon an off-season anymore. The occupancy has been very stable, thankfully, and we’ve seen growth compared to previous years,” he said. PTI RPS NP
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