India’s Goa state earmarks green attractions and festivals to boost tourist arrivals

Along the banks of the Zuari River in the Indian state of Goa, villagers gather to collect mud and make a crocodile sculpture in reverence of the animal deity for protecting their lands from saline water seepage.

Local authorities have launched the “regenerative tourism” initiative to showcase Goa’s less explored hinterlands and attract emerging visitor segments such as eco-tourists.

“Goa has been known for its sun and seas. People come here for the coast. We need to ensure that things start changing,” Goa tourism minister Rohan Khaunte told This Week in Asia.

“The key idea behind the initiative is to take care of not just the environment but also the ethos, culture, and tradition of Goa. We want to energise the entire tourism ecosystem not with a commercial thought but with a human touch,” he added.

Khaunte was speaking on the sidelines of a two-day industry event held in the state capital Panaji on April 3 and 4 to highlight Goa’s tourism campaign.

Suneel Anchipaka, director of the government body Goa Tourism and Development Corporation, said Goa is on track to achieve its ecotourism objectives.

“Goa is an ideal ecotourism destination due to its diverse ecosystems, ranging from the vibrant forests of the Western Ghats to the peaceful backwaters and lush green mangrove vegetation along the riverbanks,” said Anchipaka, referring to the Unesco World Heritage Site that is considered one of the most important global biodiversity hotspots.

With a rich history dating back thousands of years, Goa’s multifaceted culture, architecture and cuisine have been shaped by a myriad of religious and political forces.

From the early 16th century, Goa was in the hands of the Portuguese colonists until 1961, when the Indian Army took over the