Panaji: Goa is currently in the consolidation stage of tourism and will soon slide into the stagnation stage, say experts at the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management's (IITTM) conference on 'Sustaining Tourist Destinations', held at International Centre Goa, Dona Paula.
Speaking to TOI, various experts from India and abroad proposed strategies of rejuvenation, owing to Goa's potential for tourism revival.
"Goa's tourism sector is currently at the consolidation stage after which there will come a stage of stagnation. Strategies of rejuvenation must be applied the moment tourism reaches this stage," said S P Bansal, nominated member of the board of governors, IITTM. He added that there is immense scope for heritage, health and medical tourism in Goa.
"Goa is an exceptional destination in India because it has the unique feature of Portuguese culture and architecture. Heritage tourism must be taken seriously. The tourism industry also needs to have a tie-up with hospitals in Goa or have a panchakarma unit which will cater to health and medical tourism," he said.
Syed Rashidul Hasan, former faculty at department of tourism and hospitality management, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, said that Goa's 'unique selling tourism offer' needs to be identified.
"Goa has a successful model of tourism because of the cordial guest-host relations and it is safe place for women. Culturally and architecturally, the Portuguese influence makes Goa stand out compared to other Indian states - this area can be further explored. Since Thailand has become Goa's strong competitor in terms of beaches and watersports, Goa needs to improve its infrastructure to enhance the tourism industry," Hasan said.
However, development should not be overdone, opined John Tribe, professor of tourism, University of Surrey, UK.
"If there is over-development, there is a tendency for everything to converge. Then there's no particular reason for tourists to come to Goa because then it will be like every other tourist destination. You have to maintain low-key and aesthetic development that matches the landscape," Tribe said.
Speaking to TOI, various experts from India and abroad proposed strategies of rejuvenation, owing to Goa's potential for tourism revival.
"Goa's tourism sector is currently at the consolidation stage after which there will come a stage of stagnation. Strategies of rejuvenation must be applied the moment tourism reaches this stage," said S P Bansal, nominated member of the board of governors, IITTM. He added that there is immense scope for heritage, health and medical tourism in Goa.
"Goa is an exceptional destination in India because it has the unique feature of Portuguese culture and architecture. Heritage tourism must be taken seriously. The tourism industry also needs to have a tie-up with hospitals in Goa or have a panchakarma unit which will cater to health and medical tourism," he said.
Syed Rashidul Hasan, former faculty at department of tourism and hospitality management, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, said that Goa's 'unique selling tourism offer' needs to be identified.
"Goa has a successful model of tourism because of the cordial guest-host relations and it is safe place for women. Culturally and architecturally, the Portuguese influence makes Goa stand out compared to other Indian states - this area can be further explored. Since Thailand has become Goa's strong competitor in terms of beaches and watersports, Goa needs to improve its infrastructure to enhance the tourism industry," Hasan said.
However, development should not be overdone, opined John Tribe, professor of tourism, University of Surrey, UK.
"If there is over-development, there is a tendency for everything to converge. Then there's no particular reason for tourists to come to Goa because then it will be like every other tourist destination. You have to maintain low-key and aesthetic development that matches the landscape," Tribe said.
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