Goa, Gujarat to jointly promote tourism

PANAJI - The Goa government will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Gujarat government to jointly promote tourism, a tourism official said here Saturday.

Speaking to reporters here, Goa Tourism Development Corporation chairman Nikhil Desai said the MoU would help tourists coming to Gujarat to easily facilitate a passage and a holiday to Goa and vice-versa.

“We have already signed a similar MoU with five other states — Meghalaya, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Karnataka and Sikkim. Joint promotion of tourism will help boost tourism in both the states,” he said.

Desai was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a roadshow organised by the Gujarat Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC).

“The MoU will also ensure revenue sharing by both the signatory states on the basis of bookings clocked in a financial year. Sharing of resources between the two states is also key,” he said.

Desai said that Gujarat and Goa were working at a proposal involving creation of boat cruise terminals on the western coast.

Goa is one of the most popular tourism destinations in the country, which attracts 2.5 million tourists annually.