Tourism in Goa

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Template:Image frame The state of Goa, in India, is famous for its beaches and places of worship. Tourism is its primary industry, and is generally focused on the coastal areas of Goa, with decreased tourist activity inland.

Foreign tourists, mostly from Europe, arrive in Goa in winter, whilst the summer and monsoon seasons see many Indian tourists. Goa handled 2.29% of all foreign tourist arrivals in the country in 2011.[1][2] This relatively small state is situated on the west coast of India, between the borders of Maharashtra and Karnataka, and is better known to the world as a former Portuguese enclave on Indian soil. Thus, Tourism forms the backbone of Goa's economy[3].[4]

Major tourist attractions include Bom Jesus Basilica, Fort Aguada, a wax museum on Indian culture, and a heritage museum. The Churches and Convents of Goa have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

As of 2013, Goa was the destination of choice for Indian and foreign tourists, particularly Britons, with limited means who wanted to party. The state was hopeful that changes could be made which would attract a more upscale demographic.[5]

On 24 November 2017, Delta Corp Limited claimed to have set up the first casino game training course centre in India at Goa.

Beaches[edit]

Baga Beach in North Goa
Picture of GOA taken from an air craft's window

Goa's beaches cover about 125 kilometres (78 mi) of its coastline. These beaches are divided into North and South Goa.

Most Goan beaches are equipped with lifeguards
Colva Beach in South Goa
Tourists at Vagator beach in Goa. Ships can be seen in the background.
Bogmalo beach in South Goa

North Goa beaches[edit]

Pernem

Querim Beach, Kalacha beach, Arambol beach, Mandrem Beach, Ashvem beach, Morjim Beach,

Bardez

Chapora Beach, Vagator Beach, Ozran beach, Anjuna Beach, Baga Beach, Calangute Beach, Candolim Beach, Sinquerim Beach, Coco beach, Kegdole beach

Tiswadi

Miramar Beach, Caranzalem Beach, Dona Paula Beach, Vaiguinim beach, Bambolim Beach, Siridao Beach

South Goa beaches[edit]

Mormugao

Bogmalo Beach, Baina beach, Hansa beach, Hollant beach, Cansaulim beach, Velsao beach

Salcete

Arossim beach, Utorda beach, Majorda Beach, Betalbatim beach, Colva Beach, Sernabatim beach, Benaulim Beach, Varca beach, Cavelossim Beach, Mobor Beach, Betul Beach

Quepem

Canaiguinim beach

Canacona

Cabo de rama Beach, Kakolem beach, Dharvalem beach, Cola Beach, Agonda Beach, Palolem Beach, Patnem beach, Rajbag beach, Talpona beach, Galgibag Beach, Polem Beach

Sea plane service[edit]

The government of Goa conducted trials of a seaplane on the Mandovi river on 23 May 2015. The test plane took off from Dabolim airport and successfully landed in the Mandovi river. The seaplane service had started post-monsoon since 2015.[6]

Wildlife[edit]

The glassy tiger butterfly spotted at Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary

Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park, Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary harbour Goa's rich bio-diversity. Foxes, wild boars and migratory birds are also found in the forests of Goa. The avifauna includes kingfishers, mynas and parrots. The famous Dudhsagar Falls, India's fifth tallest at 310 metres, is located inside Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary at the Goa - Karnataka border.

The renowned Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is located on the island of Chorao. The endangered olive ridley sea turtle can be found on Morjim Beach in Pernem, Northern Goa and Galgibaga Beach in Canacona, Southern Goa. The turtles are listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Act. Morjim Beach is also hosting to a number of migratory birds from late September to early April. The area surrounding the shore at Tembwada in Morjim also abounds in various species of birds. A number of international bird watching tours are organised in the area.

Waterfalls[edit]

  • Dudhsagar Falls
  • Arvalem Falls
  • Kuske falls
  • Kesarval Falls
  • Tambdi Surla Falls

Museums[edit]

A Sea Harrier on display at the Naval Air Museum

There are several museums located in Goa:

  • The Goa State Museum[7] set up in 1996 aims at centralising and preserving antiquities, art objects and objects of cultural importance, depicting the different aspects of the Goan History and Culture. It is located at Patto[8] in Goa's capital city of Panaji.
  • The Naval Aviation Museum near Dabolim[9] is one among three of its kind in India.[10]
  • Goa Science Centre, located at the Miramar beach in Panaji.[11] was opened in December 2001 and it houses many wonders of Science and Astronomy.[12]
  • Archaeological Museum and Portrait Gallery located in Old Goa is run by the Archaeological Survey of India.
  • The Museum of Christian Art has a number of paintings, sculptures and religious silverware dating back to the 16th century.[13]
  • 'Ancestral Goa' is dedicated to the preservation of art, culture and environment and was established to preserve Goa's past and its rich traditions. This magnificent project[14] is the result of a lot of meticulous research, planning and hardwork. Located in Loutolim, it opened to the public in April 1995.[15] A special attraction of this project is the sculpture of Sant Mirabai strumming on her tambori and measuring 14 meters by 5 meters which was chiseled in Greco - Roman style from a vast expanse of laterite stone by Maendra Jocelino Araujo Alvares in just 30 days.[16]
  • The Big Foot Museum is located at 'Ancestral Goa' in Loutolim. It has an unusual collection of crosses, from all over the world.[17]
  • The Museum of Goa is a privately owned museum of art in Pilerne, Goa. MOG, as it is commonly known, is one of the largest contemporary art spaces in India. Founded by the artist, Dr. Subodh Kerkar, in 2015, MOG tries to depict Goan history and culture through modern art. The Museum is also an active cultural space, hosting events, talks, workshops and discussions. MOG hosts exhibitions all year round, with its largest being the Goa Affordable Art Fest which often starts in December and lasts till the end of January.
  • The Pilar Museum is located on the Pilar hillock where the Pilar Seminary is also located. The Museum was founded by Fr Costa, and highlights various finds on and around the Pilar hillock and now preserved in the seminary museum.[18]
  • The 'Wax World' Museum, inaugurated in 2008[19] is located in Old Goa contains exquisite wax statues. The statues have been sculpted by Shreeji Bhaskaran,[20] who owns the museum and is also responsible for giving India its first wax museum located at Ooty, Karnataka, which was set up in March 2007.[19]
  • 'Goa Chitra Museum', established by Victor Hugo Gomes, is an ethnographic museum in Benaulim showcasing traditional Goan farming implements and other Goan antiques.[21]
  • Ashvek Vintage World is a vintage car museum located in Nuvem, Goa. Set up in 2004 by Pradeep Naik, it is Goa's first car museum.

Heritage homes[edit]

Another major tourist attraction in Goa is its heritage homes.[22] A legacy of the Portuguese colonial regime of more than 450 years, some of these palatial homes are now converted into hotels while many are still inhabited by the people. The popular heritage homes in Goa are:

Forts[edit]

Fort Aguada

The landscape of Goa is dotted with several forts.

  1. Aguada Fort
  2. Alorna Fort
  3. Anjediva Fort
  4. Betul Fort
  5. Cabo de Rama
  6. Chandor Fort
  7. Chapora Fort
  8. Corjuem Fort
  9. Gandaulim Fort
  10. Gaspar Dias Fort
  11. Mormugão Fort
  12. Nanuz Fort
  13. Naroa Fort
  14. Palácio do Cabo
  15. Ponda Fort
  16. Rachol Fort
  17. Reis Magos
  18. Sanquelim Fort
  19. Fortaleza de São Sebastião
  20. São Tiago of Banastarim Fort
  21. São Tomé of Tivim Fort
  22. St Estevam Fort
  23. Tiracol Fort

List of monuments of national importance[edit]

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List of state protected monuments[edit]

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Administration[edit]

The administration of tourism in Goa lies with Minister for Tourism, Manohar Ajgaonkar, and Secretary and Director for Tourism, Menino D'Souza. Other stakeholders in Goa tourism are the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (A Government of Goa undertaking) and the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG). Prachi Desai has been appointed as the face of Goa's Tourism.

Goa Tourism Development Corporation[edit]

The Goa Tourism Development Corporation Ltd. (GTDC) carries out tourism commercial activities like conducting sight seeing tours and river cruises. It also manages 12 hotels with a total of 525 rooms.[26] Also, tourist can opt-in from tourism site in India. They are recognised by tourism minister of India, the government of India to boost Indian tourism sector by providing a world-class tour to tourist.

See also[edit]

Outline of tourism in India[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "Tourist Arrivals (Year Wise)". Department of Tourism, Government of Goa. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  2. ↑ "Annual Report, 2011-2012 p. 64" (PDF). Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 March 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  3. ↑ "Shrinking tourism necessitates Goa to look for alternative economic sources". Deccan Herald. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  4. ↑ "Shree Damodar College of Commerce and Economics, Margao, Goa". damodarcollege.org. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  5. ↑ Gethin Chamberlain (31 August 2013). "Why Goa is looking to go upmarket – and banish Brits and backpackers: As visitor numbers dip, the Indian state wants to rid itself of budget tourists – but its rubbish mountains and beach gangs are putting off the rich". The Observer, The Guardian. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  6. ↑ Sea Plance Service
  7. ↑ "Goa Museum - Government of Goa". goamuseum.gov.in. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  8. ↑ "Goa Museum - Government of Goa". goamuseum.gov.in. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  9. ↑ "Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, India - Naval Aviation Museum". goatourism.gov.in. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  10. ↑ "Warbirds of India - Naval Aviation Museum". warbirdsofindia.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  11. ↑ "Science shows :: Goa Science Centre & Planetarium". goasciencecentre.in. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  12. ↑ "About us". Government of Goa Science Centre. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  13. ↑ "Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, India - Christian Art Museum, Old Goa". goatourism.gov.in. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  14. ↑ web site designed and created by: Lynn Barreto Miranda, BM Web Studio, www.bmwebstudio.com, Margao, Goa, India. ph: 2731533, 9822151419. "Ancestral Goa - a center for preservation of Art, Culture and Environment at Big Foot, Loutolim, Goa, India". ancestralgoa.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ↑ "Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, India - Ancestral Goa". goatourism.gov.in. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  16. ↑ web site designed and created by: Lynn Barreto Miranda, BM Web Studio, www.bmwebstudio.com, Margao, Goa, India. ph: 2731533, 9822151419. "Ancestral Goa - a center for preservation of Art, Culture and Environment at Big Foot, Loutolim, Goa, India". ancestralgoa.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ↑ web site designed and created by: Lynn Barreto Miranda, BM Web Studio, www.bmwebstudio.com, Margao, Goa, India. ph: 2731533, 9822151419. "Bigfoot Cross Museum, Loutolim, Goa, India". bigfootcrossmuseum.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ↑ "Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, India - Pilar Museum, Goa Velha". goatourism.gov.in. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Wax World: Goa's very own Madame Tussauds - The Times of India". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  20. ↑ "Wax World Museum at Old Goa, Information on the Wax World museum in Old Goa, About the Wax World museum In Goa". goaholidayhomes.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  21. ↑ "Goa Chitra : Museum". goachitra.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  22. ↑ "Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, India - Heritage Houses". goatourism.gov.in. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  23. ↑ "Hidden Attraction - The Times of India". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  24. ↑ "Menezes Braganca Heritage House of Chandor | iGoa". Archived from the original on 6 May 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  25. ↑ "Goan mansions". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  26. ↑ "Economic Survey 2012-2013" (PDF). Government of Goa. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
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