Romance with rains: Goa tells tourists

Panaji: Goa's crowded beaches wear a largely deserted look during the monsoons. At this time of the year, swimming is banned on beaches, and just as the southwest monsoon hits the coast, tourists start disappearing.

But, the June-September period is also the time for a different experience. With giant sea waves hitting the shores, cool breeze welcomes tourists to the lush green landscape.

Making this the catch, the Goa government has now decided to sell the concept of rains to the tourists. They have come up with the idea of 'raindrop tourism' which allows tourists to romance and dance out in the open when it rains.

The Tourism Department is set to float this concept of raindrop tourism, especially to travellers from West Asia, where rains are sparse. For this, authorities are also streamlining a promotional campaign. "We lack integrated campaign. Our promotional campaigns are distributed amongst multiple agencies. Other states have a single agency doing the job," said Swapnil Naik,Director, Goa Tourism.

Official figures suggest that, Goa tourist inflow drops to just 10 percent during monsoons. The coastal state is facing tough competition from Kerala, which has branded itself as God's Own Country and aggressively promotes backwater tourism concept. Goa lacked this kind of branding for the monsoons which is now being compensated for.

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Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), which has 13 properties, plans to introduce discount offers under concept of 'raindrop tourism'. Themes like 'monsoon glee' and 'monsoon honeymoon' are chosen as package titles at resorts and hotels to attract tourists during this off season.