Goa woos Iranian tourists in monsoon season

PANAJI: Goa, dubbed as India's beach capital, is trying to woo tourists from West Asian countries this monsoon by offering them newer forms of tourism like Yoga even as travel professionals from Iran made a familiarisation trip to the coastal state.

Goa, known for its sunshine beaches, is of late fast emerging as a favoured destination for Yoga, Ayurveda and wellness tourism.

"Iran is an important tourism market for Goa tourism and we are focussing our marketing strategies for attracting tourists from this region. Goa is a perfect holiday destination for visitors from Iran and there is a surge in footfall from Iran during the last two years," Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar told reporters today.

He said as many as 3990 tourists from Iran had visited Goa in 2014.

While during the charter season 2014-15, as many as 42 chartered flights landed in Goa from Iran bringing in 3,594 tourists. Besides, Iran nationals also visit Goa as FITs (Free Independent Travellers), Parulekar added.

"Visitors from the Middle East opt to holiday in Goa during monsoon. Goa has also carved a niche for itself as a destination for yoga, Ayurveda and wellness tourism which are some of the newer tourism options that tourists from the Middle East seek while planning holidays in India," said Yogesh Naik, Manager (marketing), Goa Tourism Development Corporation, which hosted the familiarisation (FAM) tour.

He said the state government wanted to enhance footfall from the West Asian countries by giving them experience of new offerings in addition to adventure and all other forms of tourism.

This is the third FAM trip organised recently by the Goa Tourism Department for travel and tour operators from the oil rich provinces of the Gulf.

"Two separate familiarisation (FAM) trips from the Gulf regions were hosted in May and June 2015," Naik said.

During the FAM, the guests from Iran experienced the thrills of white water rafting in Mhadei river in Sattari.

They visited Atreya Vedic Farm at Mollem, mosques, temples, churches, beaches and hotel properties, besides relishing Goan cuisine along with the Goan folklore and culture.

They also met officials of Goa Tourism and various stakeholders in tourism where they engaged in B2B dialogues and exchanged views on promotion of tourism and travel, he said.