Tourism takes a knock in Goa

PANAJI: The swine flu scare has struck a body blow to the Goa tourism industry, already struggling to find its feet in the aftermath of global financial crisis. The state, which so far has resported 13 confirm cases, is now witnessing heavy cancellations. ���People do not want to travel to areas where swine flu cases have been reported,��� said a senior official of Club Mahindra.

Typically, domestic travellers flock to Goa from May-end to September for weddings, conferences and weekend getaways at discounted hotel offers. ���This is a season for college crowds and groups coming on holidays. But now they are all cancelling their bookings,��� said Simon Pereira of Travel and Tourism Association of Goa. Agreed Simon DeSouza, owner of a popular holiday villa near Calangute beach: ���Nearly half of my bookings have been cancelled. That this has happened in the last minute means people are panicking.���

���We were hoping for a revival in conference category this season. But the flu outbreak has damaged our chances of getting customers,��� a senior marketing official of a five star resort in Panjim told ET.

Tourism generates approximately Rs 1, 500 crore for the state. This is nearly half of the state���s entire budget. Any drop in this segment will seriously impact Goa���s economy.

The state had already seen numbers dropping from over 25 lakh tourist in 2007 to approximately 23 lakh tourists in 2008. Numbers were expected to fall further by 25% this year.