Goa to promote Ayurveda, Yoga Tourism at Arabian Travel Market

Goa will promote itself as a centre for wellness and Yoga tourism to attract travellers during the monsoon season from the Middle East at the forthcoming Arabian Travel Market (ATM) event to be held in Dubai.
"You can't sell beaches to them during monsoon. We will promote wellness, Ayurveda and Yoga tourism," said Nikhil Desai, Managing Director, Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), a head of his visit to the ATM.
Arabian Travel Market is the leading international travel and tourism event in the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals from across the globe. ATM 2014 is scheduled to be held during May 5 to 8, 2014.

A huge contingent of travel agents and hoteliers will also participate to promote Goa at the ATM, where it has its own stall.
"Months from June to September, when tourism is lean, can be promoted amongst the West Asian countries and Jordan and Iranian tourists, who look out for cooler locations when the scorching sun burns their region," Desai said.
Desai said these travellers look towards Scotland or Kerala in India as they love rains.

"We want to attract this segment of tourists, who also include expatriates," he said, adding that Goa has been a mid-haul destination for these travellers, who don't mind coming here on the weekends.

Goa, which usually witnesses peak tourist season post- September, also has hotels offering attractive packages during monsoon.
"Occupancy in five-star hotels in Goa is 60 per cent during monsoon, and is 50 per cent in other hotels," Desai added.