Panaji: The Electronic Dance Music (EDMs) festivals like Sunburn and Supersonic help increase tourist inflow to Goa and promote the state at the international stage as a tourism destination, Tourism Minister Manohar Azgaonkar told the Goa Assembly on Tuesday.
In a written answer tabled in the House during question hour, Mr. Azgaonkar said that over five years, when the EDM festivals were held since 2012-2016, the state earned a total revenue of ₹ 20.46 crore from the two events.
The EDMs are held especially during the festive season of Christmas through New Year.
“These kind of events attract additional tourists especially music lovers during the festival duration to the state. It generates revenue to the exchequer as well as to the hoteliers, taxi and tour operators,and locals,” Mr. Azgaonkar said in reply to a sub-query.
EDM festivals of high magnitude like that of Supersonic and Sunburn are widely publicised around the globe and telecast live in various parts of the world. “This publicity helps Goa attract new and quality tourists,” he said.
400 foreigners held
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who also holds the home portfolio, said during question hour that over 400 foreign nationals, including 283 Nigerians, have been booked in the state for a variety of crimes, a majority of them being drug-trade cases, in the last five years.
The Nigerians are followed by Russians (49), Britishers (37) and Nepalis (19) nationals, who are among the top nationalities as far as crime registered in Goa is concerned, he said. Drug-related crimes topped the list of offences committed by foreign nationals, with as many as 63 cases registered under various provisions of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 58 foreigners have been booked for cheating, 46 for violation of the Foreigners Act and 21 for rioting.