Lok Sabha Question No. 2469 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-18
Subject: Arrival of Foreign Tourists in Goa
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Francisco Cosme Sardinha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2469

## ANSWERED ON 18.12.2023

## ARRIVAL OF FOREIGN TOURISTS IN GOA

## 2469.SHRI COSME FRANCISCO CAITANO SARDINHA:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) the trend of the arrivals of foreign tourists in the State of Goa after the COVID-19 Pandemic;
- (b) whether the number has reached pre-Pandemic levels;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (d) whether  the  Ministry  has  planned  measures  to  re-brand  the  Indian States as tourist destinations in the post-Pandemic setting; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF TOURISM                                   (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) & (b): The details of Foreign Tourist Visits (FTVs) in the State of Goa during 2018-2022 is given below:

| Year                 |   FTVs (in Lakh) | Growth over previous year (%)   |
|----------------------|------------------|---------------------------------|
| 2018                 |             9.34 | -                               |
| 2019                 |             9.37 | 0.32                            |
| 2020                 |             3.03 | -67.66                          |
| 2021                 |             0.22 | -92.74                          |
| 2022                 |             1.75 | 695.45                          |
| 2023 (Upto July) (P) |             2.81 | 60.57                           |

Source: State Tourism Department.

(P): Provisional

(c): As  per  the  inputs  received,  Tourism  department  of  Government  of Goa has launched and notified the below mentioned schemes to recover from covid-19 pandemic:

- (i) 'Tourist Trade Support (Working Capital Interest Subvention) Scheme 2021':  to  support  the  MSME's  in  tourism  industry  which  has  been
- adversely  affected  due  to  pandemic  by  subsidizing  the  working capital loans for 6-month period. Under the said scheme, there is a provision  of  reimbursement  of  interest  up  to  maximum  of  5%  on working capital loans amounting to a maximum of INR 25 Lakhs for 6 months  in one  single  claim  wherein  the  maximum  burden  on Government  per  eligible  entity  shall  be  Rs.62,500/-  and  maximum number  of  beneficiaries  covered  under  the  scheme  are  800.  All registered B, C, D category hotels/accommodation and Travel & Tour Operators are eligible for benefit of the said scheme.
- (ii) 'International  Charter  Support  (Waiver  of  Landing  Fees)  Scheme 2021':  to  provide  relaxation  in  landing  charges  of  International Charters  to  Goa  in  order  to  attract  higher  number  of  charters  by reducing the burden on cost of operation of international chartered flights.  Under  the  said  scheme,  reimbursement  to  charters  up  to maximum  of  INR  1  lakh  per  international  charter  flight  on  landing charges excluding GST at Dabolim Airport, Goa during the period of the  Scheme.  The  said  scheme  was  in  force  from  October  2021  to March 2022.
- (iii) Department  is undertaking all possible statutory, remedial and preventive measures to ensure increase in tourist traffic in the State. As a part of promotional campaign, the State Department of Tourism along  with  the  travel  trade  participates  at  important  international and domestic travel Marts/Exhibitions.  In addition, Road Shows are also organized in international and domestic markets. The Department prints, distributes brochures in foreign as well as English language. In order to create awareness about Tourism in the State, this  Department  releases  advertisements  in  various  National  and International magazines, newspapers, etc.  Besides, advertisement is also  released  in  national  and  international  TV  channels  in  English and local foreign languages.
- (d)  &  (e):  The  Ministry  of  Tourism  promotes  the  tourist  destinations  and tourism  products  of  the  country  in  a  holistic  manner.  It  endeavors  to position India as a preferred tourism destination in the tourism generating markets,  under  the  Incredible  India  brand,  to  promote  various  tourism products  and  destinations  in  the  global  tourism  market  through  an integrated marketing and promotional strategy and a synergized campaign in  association  with  the  Travel  Trade,  State  Governments  and  Indian Missions overseas.

*****