Tourism promotion to cost exchequer Rs 17 crore (Herald)

Tourism promotion to cost exchequer Rs 17 crore October 19, 2013 TEAM HERALD PANJIM: While the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has censured excess expenditures of Rs 19 crore on international and domestic road shows and exhibitions for promotion of Goa tourism between 2007-2012, the present government has also kept these ‘show going’ with costs already slated to touch Rs 17 crore for international and domestic travel marts in this financial year itself. Data furnished in the Goa Assembly reveals that an amount of approximately Rs 10 crore will be spent on participation in international travel fairs, road shows while approximately Rs 7 crore is slated for expenditures on promotion of Goa tourism in domestic markets. Road shows for this financial year have been planned in Germany, Switzerland-Austria, Malaysia and Thailand, Finland and Norway, England, Spain and Italy, USA, Australia and New Zealand, Europe, Africa and South America. Tourism campaigns in the USA alone is to cost the exchequer Rs 77.66 lakh while that in Australia and New Zealand is to cost Rs 71.91 lakh. Interestingly these are new destinations where Goa is being promoted this year. Promotions in Finland and Norway are also looking expensive with Rs 66.13 lakh slated to be spent. Likewise tourism promotions in Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Italy will cost the government Rs 55 lakh each. As far as international travel fairs, Goa is participating in eight international travel exhibitions. These include Moscow, London, Singapore, Paris, Berlin, Dubai and Feria internacional de turismo FITUR (International tourism trade fair) in Spain. Participation in the ITB-Berlin is to cost Rs 109 lakh while Rs 108.98 lakh would be spent on the WTM-London. The promotion of Goa tourism within India is also slated to cost Rs 6.94 crore with as much as Rs 2.99 crore slated for domestic road shows while Rs 3.95 crore is to be spent on exhibitions. Within India promotions are chalked out to be held in Delhi, Punjab, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Hyderabad. Goa is participating in as many as 23 travel and tourism exhibitions in the country. The tourism ministry, in its written reply furnished in the Goa Assembly has defended its participation in both domestic and international promotion events stating that these have been decided by the State Level Marketing Committee, comprising five representatives from the tourism industry and government officials. Parulekar in his reply to the House says, “Travel agents, tour operators, charter operators, airline representatives have increased at the stalls of the domestic and international fair shows.” http://www.heraldgoa.in/News/Main%20Page%20News/Tourism-promotion-to-cost-exchequer-Rs-17-crore/80863.html