Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today told the statelegislative assembly that efforts were on to retain tourist arrivals from theUK market, which are currently on the decline.
Parrikar was responding to a question by independentlegislator Rohan Khaunte who had questioned the wisdom of state tourismministry to participate in the World Trade Mart (WTM), despite the fact thatthe tourist arrivals from the country was dropping.
“You will see the impact of our participation in WTM in thenext year’s statistics,” Parrikar said, adding that the state had displayed abigger stall for the mart.
The WTM was held inLondon in November 2012 in which Goa delegation led by state tourism ministerDilip Parulekar had participated.
Parrikar told the house today that if UK market is slippingout of hand, then the participation will help to regain the confidence of thetourists.
Raising the question on the floor of the house, Khaunte hadpointed out that Rs one crore-odd was spent on the jaunt. “If we want, then weshould aim for the East European tourists,” he advised.
The five day long state legislative assembly session beganfrom yesterday.
