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Japanese Boost at Goa
Attracting a lot of negative
publicity in western Europe and Russia due to a string of high profile
sex crimes against foreign tourists, Goa is now looking at Japan to expand
its tourism base.
A state level delegation
led by Tourism Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar and director of Goa Tourism
Swapnil Naik returned from Japan last week after showcasing the sunny coastal
state as an ideal tourism destination for the young, urban Japanese.
'We are looking to attract
all age groups of tourists from Japan. However, the focus will be on the
young traveller,' Naik told reporters here Monday, after his visit to three
principal cities Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya.
'There has been keen interest
expressed by the travel and trade fraternity in Japan on adding Goa to
the travel itinerary of the Japanese traveller. We, in association with
India Tourism, will be organising a familiarisation trip for a delegation
of the best travel agents from Japan to better acquaint them with the offerings
of our state,' Naik said.
He added that the recent
central government decision to allow visa-on-arrival facility to Japanese
tourists could have already paved the way for attracting tourists from
the country.
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Goa's tourism trade show
across the three cities saw a presence of over 150 representatives from
some of the best travel agencies in Japan, including top travel publications,
channels and trade magazines, Naik said.
'The people of Japan are
known for their hard working attitude, work ethics and zeal to succeed.
We have invited them to come to Goa to relax, unwind and rejuvenate,' Nilkanth
Halarnkar said.
In the recent past, Goa
has attracted a lot of negative media attention in western Europe and Russia
following several sex crimes against foreign nationals and subsequent shoddy
police investigations. The state attracts nearly 2.4 million tourists annually,
out of which half a million are foreigners. |
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