India Inc helps Goa tide over lean tourist season

Goa is all set to see increased tourist traffic, with a difference that the tourists in this case are sponsored by corporate houses and multi-national companies (MNCs).

The practice to provide numerous perks and incentives to office bearers, executives and dealers through paid holidays and workshops at new places is making Goa a choice destination.

In the lean season (between May to October) it is providing business worth around Rs 500 crore to this small union territory.

Not only the politicians of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who came here for the 'Chintan baithak' but corporate houses such as Birla Sunlife, McKinsey, Hindustan Lever and Maruti Udyog are turning out to be repeat patrons here. A few months back even the CAT committee of Indian Institute of Managements also held their meetings here.

Ralph de Sousa, group chairman of de Souza group said, "With the trend of corporate meetings being held at interesting tourist destinations as an incentive, and Goa offering every possible kind of geographical settings""right from sea, to forests to mountains"" it is reaping the benefits. Now there is no off season in Goa. One is the tourist season, while the other is the business client season. With hotels to fit in every budget for corporates, even small foundry companies, auto ancillary companies are seeking Goa as favoured destination.''

Taj group of hotels is seeing an annual growth of 10-15 per cent in corporate traffic even though they cannot admit groups more than 100-150 strong and also charge higher fees than most of the other hotels.

"It is an alternate business and is poised only to increase with more and more MNCs coming to India and following global practices on similar lines and overall attractiveness of the place. In fact, we have made separate investment to entertain these clients,'' said Jaydeep Khanna, area sales manager, Taj.

Taj at their three properties ""Taj Exotica, Taj Holiday Village and Fort Aguada"" provides for activities such as professional rock climbing, rope crossing, real treasure hunts and other such events which help in building up group activities and team building sessions.

"While corporate clients are very enthusiastic for these sports, manned by professionals, we have newly acquired all-terrain vehicles which are small scooters with huge tyres and moves on all kind of surfaces such as sand, rock or water. Corporates find these games a learning exercise for obstacle crossing. We have got a capacity constraint and looking for a bigger convention facility to entertain more such traffic,'' he added.

Lalit Mishra, general manager of Cidade Goa, near Dona Paula beach, feels, "This traffic is increasing even without any marketing from our side. It is just the world-class facilities we provide. In the last two years, there has been around 25 per cent jump in corporate visitors and many a times they also become individual visitors during season and come with their family. While big corporates are already in, even small hoteliers cannot ignore this traffic and with increased marketing efforts, this can become only stronger. Even small companies now have incentive packages, it needs only channeling these funds to get more business in off season.''