Goa now a popular tourist destination in monsoon too

Agencies
March 19, 2018

Panaji, Mar 19: The image of Goa seems to be changing to a 'monsoon destination', from being a popular summer hot-spot till now for vacationers.

This is so because there has been a 60 percent rise in the number of visitors to the coastal state during the rainy season last year, a Goa tourism official said.

Till sometime back, the state, known for its scenic beaches, used to receive foreign tourists mostly in the summer months while the monsoon time was traditionally a lean period.

However, as by data released by the state tourism department last week, there was a 60 percent rise in the number of tourists during the last year's monsoon season - between June and September.

This is a phenomenal rise as compared to 22 percent growth in the number of visitors in the same period in 2016, state tourism director Menino D'Souza said.

A total of 19.15 lakh tourists arrived in Goa last year between June and September, as against 11.93 lakh in 2016 during the same period.

"A total of 18.55 lakh domestic tourists visited the state during the monsoon season last year as compared to 11.48 lakh in 2016. Besides, there were 60,161 foreign tourist footfalls in that period last year as against 45,437 in 2016," D'Souza said.

As per the official data, the state recorded a 30.75 percent growth in tourist arrivals in June last year, 61.44 percent in July, 71.39 percent in August and 94.55 percent in September.

There has been a rise in footfalls because the Goa government is aggressively marketing and promoting the state as a "365-day tourism destination" with a focus on the monsoon months, D'Souza said.

"The monsoon time is now a preferred season for travel by both domestic and foreign tourists. This increasing attraction to the state can be attributed to the pleasant weather conditions during those months, scenic landscapes and adventure activities like white water rafting and trekking," he said.

During the last two to three years, the Goa tourism department has tried to turn the off-season (June to September period) into a bustling time for tourism stakeholders, and the hotel and hospitality industry, he said.

There has been an overwhelming response to activities like monsoon festivals and special packages offered for visits to waterfalls and springs during the rainy season, he added.

Comments

Sandesh
 - 
Monday, 19 Mar 2018

Previous week I saw some news that governor ask govt to shut escort services in Goa.

Mohan
 - 
Monday, 19 Mar 2018

In summer season Goa will be more HOT..!

Ganesh
 - 
Monday, 19 Mar 2018

Goa popular in all season. There is no offseason.. There they will get escort services and drugs. So tourists liked to go there even in summer season

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coastaldigest.com news network
July 9,2020

Jeddah, Jul 9: Karnataka NRI Forum Jeddah, a registered charitable organization under Government of Karnataka & Indian Consulate Jeddah - Saudi Arabia, helping the Kannadigas overseas and in Karnataka state as well, has initiated played its role in helping stranded Kannadigas to travel back to home under Vande Bharath Mission. 

The first flight which was departed to Bengaluru from Jeddah through this mission had 155 passengers. The forum had helped hundreds ofstranded Kannadigas in reaching their destinations with majority passengers were on emergency medical issues and pregnant women.  Still hundreds of Kannadigas are looking ahead for the help to fly back.

Now, the forum has organized two separate charter flights with Spice jet for Mangaluru (IXE)on16TH July 2020 & for Bengaluru (BLR) on18TH July 2020 from Jeddah (JED) airport respectively, with the support of Indian Consulate Jeddah and the Karnataka State Government.

As the huge demands from Kannadigas having very limited seats availability, the passengers (from Karnataka Only) can book and confirm their tickets by submitting their booking data under the link given below. Priority will be given to passengers with critical needs. 

https://forms.gle/BGvFFXoNSxVmrpRh9

Note: The passengers already booked tickets with KARNATAKA NRI FORUM JEDDAH shall not reapply, you will be receiving emails / calls from the Forum shortly.

For further information you can send emails to [email protected] or by calling to below given numbers.

Mohammed Mansoor (President): +966 50459 4752
Shaikh Saoud (Chief Coordinator): +966 55978 3092

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coastaldigest.com news network
May 29,2020

Mangaluru, May 29: The southwest monsoon is expected to reach the Karnataka coast on June 1 or 2, earlier than forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Normally, Karnataka witnesses the onset of monsoon either five or six days after it had entered Kerala. However, this time, Karnataka will also witness the arrival of monsoon either on June 1 or June 2, according to meteorologists at the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Cell (KSNDMC).

The gradual formation of two low-pressure areas over the Arabian Sea located close to the western peninsular coast and gaining momentum has helped Karnataka mark the start of the four-month-long rainy season expected to revive the back-to-back drought-stricken state.

Confirming the changes in the atmospheric pattern, Dr GS Srinivasa Reddy, Director KSNDMC said, “Karnataka will also witness the onset of monsoon on the same time that of Kerala.”

The early onset of monsoon over Karnataka coast is attributed to prevailing to weather pattern over the Arabian Sea. 

“The two low-pressure areas over the Arabian Sea are steadily gaining momentum. They may reach the peak by the weekend and may concentrate further into depression causing widespread rainfall in the peninsular region and thereby advancing the onset of monsoon over the region,” Dr Reddy explained.

The KSNDMC, based on the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast, stated that due to 'prevailing favourable conditions over the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean regions', the monsoon will be normal and above normal over coastal and south-interior Karnataka according to the present scenario.

The IMD, which had initially issued a forecast of five-day delay in the onset, had issued a fresh forecast on Wednesday cautioning the states along the West coast about the formation of two intense low-pressure areas in South-East and East-Central Arabian Sea region.

Following the forecast, a yellow alert has also been issued in Kerala and coastal areas suggesting significant rainfall starting from this weekend. “Fishermen have also been advised not to venture into deep-sea due to high turbulent conditions,” an IMD official revealed.

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News Network
March 5,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 5: Karnataka is facing unprecedented economic difficulties following a Rs 8,887 crore reduction in the state's share in central taxes, cut in allocation under 15th finance commission and a Rs 3,000 crore hit in GST compensation, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa indicated on Thursday.

Presenting the state budget for 2020-21 in the Assembly, he said Karnataka's share in central taxes has come down by Rs 8,887 crore in 2019-20 as per the revised budget estimates of the central government. Therefore the state's revenue resources have been reduced. Apart from this, Rs 3,000 crore GST compensation will also be reduced as collection from the GST compensation cess is not as expected, the Chief Minister said. "With all this it has become difficult to reach to reach the 2019-20 budget targets and to manage this situation within the bounds of the Karnataka Fiscal Responsibility Act, an inevitable situation has arisen this year to cut down the expenditure of many departments," he added.

As per the interim report submitted by the 15th finance commission, there is a reduction in the state's share of central taxes to 3.64 per cent compared to 4.71 per cent fixed by the 14th finance commission. In view of this, there will be a reduction of Rs 11,215 crore in the state's share of central taxes in 2020-21 budget, when compared to the previous one.

He, however, noted that the allocation recommendation of the 15th finance commission is limited to one year only and the complete report for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26 will be submitted in October 2020.

"Our government will soon submit a revised memorandum to the commission to set right the loss caused to the state with regard allocation for the year 2020-21 and give more allocation for the remaining period," the Chief Minister said. He also said, when compared to the previous year, there is an increase of approximately Rs 10,000 crore for 2020-21 with regards to government employees salary, pension and interest on government loans, but there is no proportionate increase in resources as compared to committed expenditure. "Due to this reduction of the state's share of central taxes as per the 15th finance commission report and other developments, serious difficulties are being faced in resource mobilisation efforts of the state," Yediyurappa said. "This magnitude of economic difficulties was never faced in the previous years by our state," he added.

However, the state's own tax revenue collection is excellent during this year, he said. As compared to the previous year, there is a growth of 14 per cent in State GST collection. "Based on this, in the new budget, efforts are being made to manage the reduction in the share of central taxes by stabilising the state's own resources more", the Chief Minister said.

Karnataka recorded a gross state domestic product growth rate of 7.8 per cent in 2018-19 and Yediyurappa said for the current financial year it is estimated to be 6.8 per cent.

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