Panjim, April 20: Cruise liners, e-Tourist Visas (e-TVs) bring cheer to Goa tourism as foreign tourist footfalls surge during the last two months from these two segments.
The Goa airport at Dabolim has issued as many as 15,337 e-Tourist Visas as on April 14, 2015. Likewise, as on April 11, 2015 as many as 21,801 foreign tourists arrived in Goa on cruise liners which docked at MPT.
According to reports from the MPT, between November 14, 2014 to April 11, 2015, a total of 23 cruise liners have docked at MPT cruise terminal.
A total of 21,801 foreign passengers have visited Goa via cruise liners alongwith 9,169 crew on board respectively.
• 15,337 e-Tourist Visas issued till April 14
• 21,801 foreign tourists arrive in Goa on cruise liners till April 11.
• Govt. hails MPT, Goa Airport for providing adequate facilities at port and airport
Most of the cruise liners have had on board tourists from Germany, UK, Australia, USA, Switzerland, Belgium and Argentina. Interestingly, Russian tourists dominate the e-Tourist Visa list with as many as 10, 135 e-tourist visas issued till April 14.
Foreign nationals from 27 countries have availed of this e-TV facility. These include foreign tourists from USA (292), Germany (477), Ukraine (3,907), Oman (6), Israel (11), Finland (157), Norway (71), Palestine (5), American Samoa (1), Mexico (4), Fiji (1), Indonesia (3), Kenya (3), UAE (48), Thailand (4), Australia (79), Singapore (4), Philippines (50), Brazil (8), Luxemburg (7), Jordan (52), New Zealand (33), Burma (1), Republic of Korea (1), Japan (5) and Mauritius (1).
Tourism minister Shri. Dilip Parulekar said, “While there were several apprehensions over the current season and decline in foreign footfalls, the scenario is better than expected. A lot of tourists are availing of the e-tourist visas and cruise liners to visit Goa. This year alone we have done well, and we can expect a better season 2015-16.”
Shri. Parulekar hailed the efforts made by MPT and Goa Airport in providing facilities for tourists on arrival at the port and airport and added that Goa Tourism is extending full support to all agencies co-operating with the government in promotion of tourism. He also said that the Konkan Railway Corporation (KRC) is adding additional trains to meet the demands from tourists to travel to Goa during the summer vacations and all this are positive signs that tourists think of Goa for holidays, weekend holidays and events.
