Goa packs the year ahead with fun, frolic & festivities Your favourite holiday destination, Goa, is soon going to get a cultural lift. The state tourism department is planning a tourism calendar. The Goa government, headed by IIT-Bombay graduate Manohar Parrikar, is trying to woo tourists throughout the year by organising cultural festivals and constructing theme parks.
"Besides beaches and the food, Goa has a rich culture and vast ecological wealth. We want the world to experience this side of Goa too," said Dilip Parulekar, the tourism minister of Goa. The government has planned an extensive event calender that features at least one festival every month. This will be an attraction for tourists during the off season too. Goa attracts nearly 13% of foreign tourists coming to India. Nearly 30 lakh tourists including five lakh foreigners visited the state in 2012-13. Nikhil Desai, managing director of Goa Tourism Development Corporation, said, "We don't want to promote the state as conducive for rave parties or cheap liquor. We would like to project Goa as a safe destination for women and wonderful experience for the entire family." With Western Ghats on one side and Arabian Sea on another, Goa has wildlife sanctuaries, sacred groves, waterfalls, lakes and coconut and cashew plantations. Festivals like Shigmo and Narakasur Vadh are also being publicised by the government. "A huge convention centre, for events and exhibitions, is underway. With the theme parks, we want to position Goa as a holiday destination for families. We wish to attract double income single-kid families," Desai added. A new airport terminal opening in June will decongest the present terminal. The budget of Shigmo festival which is Rs3 crore this time will touch Rs5 crore next year. Road shows To attract Indian tourists during monsoon, the Goa Tourism Development Corporation will organise a road show in May in UP, Punjab, Delhi, West Bengal, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. These states are very hot in June while monsoon has already set in in Goa. Goa attracts nearly 13% of foreign tourists coming to India. Nearly 30 lakh tourists including five lakh foreigners visited the state in 2012-13. Event calendar January Wine festival Feb 2014 Goa Carnival March 2014 Shigmotsav April Heritage festival May Cashew and coconut festival June-July Rain festival Oct- Nov Narkasur Vadh celebration December Christmas and feast of St Francis Xavier http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/1817941/report-goa-packs-the-year-ahead-with-fun-frolic-and-festivities ~Avelino
