JEDDAH, 26 January 2004 — After suffering a major setback in 2002, India’s foreign exchange earnings in 2003 were Rs. 17.05 billion, up from Rs. 14.20 billion in 2002. Foreign tourist arrivals increased by 15.3 percent to 2.75 million during the year. Tourism experts are hopeful that the trend will continue in 2004 and the flow of tourists will increase.
According to officials, the trend is expected to continue. The improvement in relations with Pakistan, as demonstrated by the current cease-fire and the successful South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in Islamabad, are playing a major role in improving India’s image internationally.
“2004 will attract even more tourists because the image of ‘brand India’ is improving internationally and it will have a spin-off effect on tourism as well,” says Kapil Kaul, senior vice president, Center for Asia Pacific Aviation. Tourism officials believe that India’s stable economy and political environment will do its bit in increasing tourism in 2004.
Special focus is being given to the improvement of tourist sites including Ajanta-Ellora, Hampi, Mahabalipuram, Kuruskshetra, Red Fort, Bastar, Majli Island in Assam, Khonoma in Nagaland, Mewar, Sikkim, Nagarjuna Sagar in Andhra Pradesh, Darjeeling, and Jammu and Kashmir.
The “golden triangle,” comprising New Delhi, Agra (Taj Mahal) and Jaipur (Pink City), has remained the most popular among overseas tourists. Mount Everest Base Camp has of late become one of the best tourist spots, drawing many visitors from inside and outside the country. Also attracting the attention of tourists are the Ajanta Caves and Hyderabad. On Friday, Tourism and Culture Minister Jagmohan presented the National Tourism Awards for 2003 in New Delhi. Kerala has been judged the best state for tourism-related programs, Karnataka for producing the best tourism literature and Andhra Pradesh for the best tourism audiovisual presentation. Kerala has made the most effective use of information technology and the Chhattisgarh Tourism Board has made the most innovative and unique tourism project focusing on Bastar.
In Kerala, Kovalam beach, near Trivandrum, is acknowledged as the most eco-friendly resort and the Periyar Tiger Reserve has earned the distinction of maintaining the best tourism friendly national park.
Exotic Goa, which earned statehood only recently, has also been attracting overseas visitors. It has a 105-km coastline embracing many of the finest beaches the country can offer, a wealth of accommodation from luxury resorts of international standard to budget beachside guesthouses, a cultural background and local cuisine. All these draw on an enchanting fusion of Indian and Portuguese traditions. Goa has got everything it takes to entice and enthrall the holidaymaker. With beaches in abundance, the area abounds in coconuts, cottages and calm. The monsoon — from June to August — is a period of magic months and as the saying goes, in Goa it never rains but it pours.
Variously known as the “Rome of the East,” “Tourist Paradise” and “Pearl of the Orient,” Goa is located in the western coastal belt known as Konkan. The state of Maharashtra borders Goa on the north, Karnataka on the south and east. The vast expanse of the Arabian Sea on the west forms the magnificent coastline for which Goa is justly famous.
The magnificent beauty and the architectural splendors of its old buildings and monuments have made Goa a firm favorite with travelers from around the world. This is confirmed year after year, the latest being in the current holiday season when Westerners thronged in thousands to discover that the state is much more than just beaches and sea. “It has a soul which goes deep into unique history, rich culture and some of the most beautiful natural scenery that India has to offer,” says the state tourism chief. Much of the real Goa is in its interiors, both inside its buildings and in the hinterland away from the coastal areas. Having been the meeting point of races, religions and cultures from East and West over the centuries, Goa has a lifestyle quite different from the rest of India. The warm and tolerant nature of the Goan people allows them to celebrate and enjoy the festivals of various religions.
Goan cuisine is a blend of different influences from over the centuries. The staple food in Goa is fish and rice. Since the arrival of “the hippies” in large numbers from the West in the 1960s, Goa has been a major destination for both international and domestic tourists. The tourist season in Goa begins in late September and continues through early March. The weather in these months is usually dry and pleasantly cool. The weather gets fairly hot around May and by the end of June, Goa receives the full blast of the Indian monsoon with sudden downpours and tropical thunderstorms. However, it is also during the monsoon that Goa is probably at its most beautiful, with greenery sprouting everywhere. Besides the natural beauty, the fabulous beaches and sunshine, travelers to Goa love the laid-back, peaceful, warm and friendly nature of the Goan people. This is a place where people really know how to relax. And that is the feeling tourists get when touring the country. The federal government is taking a number of steps to upgrade tourism infrastructure and market Indian destinations, according to Jagmohan.
