After all the foreign jaunts in the name of promoting tourism, the CM is now planning on using the BRICS summit to promote Goa!!!
The state government is preparing to showcase Goa as one of the best tourist destinations in India to attract foreign visitors from Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa (BRICS) during the upcoming summit.
Chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar told reporters on Tuesday that countries that represent 40% of world population would be coming to the state. He added that people should not think that just because there is a BJP government in the state and the Centre that Goa has been selected as the BRICS venue as there are other BJP-ruled states.
“Goa has been selected not at our request or demand or proposal but because of its unique identity,” Parsekar said, adding that because of the the summit, Goa has a good opportunity to project itself as a good tourist destination
He added that hosting the BRICS summit is a challenge that needs to be converted into an opportunity.
Referring to his recent meeting with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi, Parsekar said that the minister told him that around 10 crore Chinese people travel aboard but not even one per cent travel to India. “If we can showcase Goa as the best tourist destination to the Chinese and get even a small number of them to visit, it will be a great achievement for the state,” said Parsekar.
Tourism minister Dilip Parulekar said that BRICS summit will help the state to achieve 35 to 40% tourist growth. “We will distribute publicity material to the delegates visiting Goa so that when they return they can spread the word that Goa is the best tourist destination,” he said.