| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 14/08/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 35 |
| Copyright: Other |
INDIA
As Goa attracts a growing number of UK tourists, the former Portuguese colony is catering more for its high-spending visitors.
The figures speak for themselves. In the 13 years to 1998, the number of foreign visitors to Goa has trebled to 275,000; the projection for this year is that this figure will jump to over 350,000.One-third of these visitors comes from the UK, the biggest single source of overseas tourists to this former portuguese colony.
India Tourist Office director Alka Kohli said the growth in tourism spans the entire range of product from budget to upmarket.
Kohli is particularly keen to encourage the top end of the market, stressing the availability of luxury product such as the Taj Exotica.
She added that the Renaissance Goa Resort has just received a licence to open a casino and that it also plans to build a large spa centre.
“Eventually we’d like to see more incentive business, more golf courses being built, casinos and spa treatment centres.”
JMC product manager Maria Croissier said bookings for the coming winter are up 10% on last year .
“Otherwise, we have a mix of customers, around 30% of whom opt to add on a tour to somewhere like Delhi and northern India.”
Unijet general manager for Europe, Africa and Asia, John Riley, confirms that the upper end of the market is where his company is seeing the most growth into Goa.
“This is one of our best-selling winter destinations and it now rivals places such as the Canaries. Bookings are up again for next winter,” he said.
Unijet has added the four-star Club Mahindra, a new 167-room hotel on Varca Beach in South Goa. It will now feature alongside other upmarket properties in the Goa section of its Wintersun brochure.
These include the Holiday Inn and the Renaissance Goa Resort.
A 14-night stay at Club Mahindra ranges in price from £885 per person in November to £1,369 over Christmas .
First Choice product group manager long haul Emma Dauncey said bookings to Goa for the coming winter show a 20% increase in business on last year, especially for the bed-and-breakfast market.
Dauncey also notes a growing trend among customers for all-inclusive packages.
In response, First Choice has added two new all-inclusive properties to its programme – the Sun Village and Heritage Village. Seven nights at the Sun Village costs £629 in a twin room departing in November.
Somak’s dedicated Goa brochure features beach holidays, as well as tours of India.
Managing director Stuart Britton said: “Goa still represents about 70% of our business to India. Tailor-made trips to India are becoming increasingly popular, particularly with clients who have previously visited Goa. They now have the confidence to plan a more ambitious trip.”
Although Kohli wants to see an increase in upmarket tourism, she said: “We don’t want to discourage the lower end of the market. There really is something for everyone. It is a very green place, the people are friendly, the cuisine is fantastic, there are lots of historical monuments and there is just a great, relaxed atmosphere.”
She said the tourist office is planning to take a new approach in its next advertising campaign due to run from October to March.
It will focus on the fun aspects of holidaying in India rather than the purely cultural attractions.
“We would like to change the perception of India. We are not saying you should ignore the culture but we are trying to get over the idea that coming to India doesn’t have to be tough; it can be a fun, relaxing holiday,” Kohli said.
She is also keen to stress that Goa is not the only beach destination in India.
“Kerala has a well developed tourist infrastructure. It offers amazing scenery, wildlife sanctuaries, coral island that are similar to the Maldives and very good facilities.”
Goa: is a traditional haunt for backpackers but is now becoming popular with high-spending clients