Enjoy Goa in the monsoons-Goa tourism campaigns

The bountiful rainfall in the month of July has certainly egged the business acumen of the tourism industry in the state of Goa and the state government now wants to reap the benefits of such an abundant outpouring from the skies by launching a massive campaign all over the country especially in the dry north India to woo tourists to the state of Goa to enjoy the green, clean and friendly Goa during the monsoons.

The state of Goa has been fortunate to receive a bountiful rainfall as is normal in Goa  in the monsoon. The rains have however not ventured into some areas of the country and the north and west of India is still experiencing scorching heat. Goa is estimated to have received over 1,553 mm rainfall till date with over 51.4 mm received only during the last 24 hours itself.

The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG)has approached the state government to step up its drive to promote the state in the Indian tourism market. TTAG has proposed two suggestions which include the revival of the "Goa 365 days"  tourism campaign which was pointed out as a catchy phrase and was recollected as being a successful campaign. The other suggestion is to aggressively promote Goa through advertisements in various travel magazines and news publications in markets which are Goa friendly according to the TTAG President Mr Ralph de Sousa.

On its part the tourism department has suggested campaigns on radio stations such as FM stations across the country in the form of jingles and advertisements which is expected to do the trick. Presently the GTDC has an average of 60% occupancy at its residences on the Goan coastline in Calangute, Miramar, Panjim and Colva. It is believed that it is much cooler in Goa in the rains and as a result  a lot of tourists from northern India make Goa their most favourite destination at this time of the year.

The Goa tourism Development Corporation is also expected to take part in the travel and trade fair at Kolkata which commences from July 11, the international travel mart at Bangalore from July 18 and another trade fair at Ahmedabad in Gujarat from July 31. These moves are being strategically planned at a time when the hotels in Goa have reduced their room tariffs but have however met limited success in attracting larger number of tourists to Goa.

Meanwhile the state of Goa has been sanctioned over Rs 43 crore by the central government for integrated development of infrastructure for heritage and river cruise development on the two Goan rivers of Mandovi and Zuari. Under the plan, the infrastructure expected due to the project is a new stat of the art "finger jetty" model for Santa Monica jetty in Panaji which berths cruise boats operating in the Mandovi river. Besides in the vicinity, a multi storeyed parking facility, reception area, cafeteria and boat cruise offices will be coming up.

Chinese being wooed for Goa

Air India, the country's premier international airline has begun a vigorous campaign to target Chinese tourists by offering them a free return trip from Mumbai or Delhi to Goa, according to the officials of the Goa tourism department who are in great spirits thanks to the Goa pavilion at the recent Beijing International Tourism Expo.

According to estimates, over 40,000 Chinese tourists visited the Goa pavilion at the tourism trade fair picking up a Goa brochure printed in Cantonese.

Chinese tourists have been steadily increasing their visits to "incredible India" in the last few years and places such as Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and the Ajanta and Ellora caves has seen a regular flow of Chinese tourists. By offering a free return air trip to Goa would therefore set the trend for a new travel market to explore, for the state of Goa.

During the three day tourism expo, the Goa pavilion attracted travel buyers, tour operators, travel agents and the media in general who attended seminars, conferences and presentations organised by the Goa team

Tourists head for Goa in the rains

The global economic meltdown notwithstanding, tourists have responded favourably to the bold initiatives of Goa's tourism industry which attracted them with attractive packages with sizeable discounts to woo tourists in the off season with bargain rates, which the tourists seem to have lapped up. This was evident from the fact that many hotels in Goa have reported a occupancy ranging from 50 to 70 percent in their hotel rooms.

The various schemes on offer seem to have clicked for the hotel industry, with some hotels even going to the extent of throwing in an extra free day's stay for their clients who book a room in the three day package. Other incentives include a free half-day sight-seeing tour along with a boat ride and free transport to and from the airport for the guests.

The properties of the Goa Tourism Development Corporation have however recorded a lower occupancy at around 50 % occupancy. The GTDC has been offering a discount of over 15% for individual tourists while in the case of groups of 20 or more, the discount on offer is around 20 percent. Students are offered a few other perks.

The President of the Travel and tourism association of Goa Mr Ralph D'Souza was of the opinion that most hotels had a very good occupancy in the monsoons in Goa while there was a minor dip in the arrival of domestic tourists  in May due to the elections in many parts of the country.

Also a lot of corporate houses in the country hold their annual conferences in the beach drenched state of Goa during the monsoons and bring in their management and executives to Goa thereby boosting the room occupancy. Also the local promotions by the hotel industry also keep the room occupancy high especially on the weekends.

For hotel bookings and bookings in luxurious apartments in Goa with all amenities, click here.

Goa in the rains entices tourists with bargain deals

Goa in the rains is supposed to be as exotic as Goa in the winter. However this charm of Goa in the rains has to be seen to be believed. Green verdant fields dotted with palm trees and a rain soaked environment where the rain spikes hard into the red soil evoking life out of the Goan earth is a sight to behold because like they say, when it rains in Goa it actually pours.

The boat cruises are another delight to savour in Goa at this time of the year when the rains beckon Goa like a beautiful veil and cruising on the Goan boats can be an wanton attraction for all ages,  from the die hard romantic to the fagged out businessman or the relaxed octogenarian finding the pleasure too hard to resist in Goa.

For some people in northern India, this is also a good time to check out on a vacation to Goa since the schools in Delhi are normally on vacation mode and prices are always at its bottom at this time of the year, providing a great Goan holiday.

What's making the holidays more enticing to tourists this year are the tariffs of hotels in Goa which have dropped to almost half or lesser in the starred hotels while the smaller or medium sized hotels have also reduced rates by over 50 %.

So it is a win-win situation for the avid tourist to Goa as well as the hotel sector. While Indian tourists come to Goa to avail of the twin benefits of reduced tariffs and Goa in the monsoons delight, the foreign tourists are normally here to enjoy Goa in the rains.

So among he various packages on offer , the three day packages are normally picked up faster by the tourists  where a three day stay ranges between 12,000 and 21,000 which include transfers from and to the airport/railway station, with three meals a day and in certain cases, use of the hotel spa and the swimming pool.

Some starred hotels have gone full blown in the offer package with a reputed five star hotel in the south of Goa offering a tantalising package for three nights which includes transfers from airport/railway station, welcome drinks, all buffet meals, sight seeing, swimming pool usage, boat cruising, free use of steam and sauna and daily beverages for one hour, all at a bargain price of Rs 17999 which also throws in a complimentary stay for a child under 12 years of age. Click here for more details.

However competition is stiff in this times and the same offer as above is beaten by another starred hotel in south Goa which offers similar facilities for as little as 11,999 if booked 2 weeks in advance of the check-in date.North Goa is also not far behind in the rates-on-offer packages. A prominent north Goa hotel has a tempting monsoon package starting at Rs 12,800 which goes upto Rs 21,150. Other packages also range from 15,200 up to Rs 35,999, for a couple for a two night stay. Click here for more details

The serviced apartments in Goa are also showing a steady rise in bookings because many tourists find the apartments very convenient and have a better freedom to move around in Goa as well as keeping their room tariffs even lower while enjoying similar benefits.

The tourism department in Goa in the meanwhile is upbeat about the number of tourists in June this year which has shown a steady rise in the arrivals of tourists to the state. No doubt this is the best time to visit a must-see fun-filled, sun-kissed and now rain-drenching destination such as Goa.

Goa Properties : UK nationals seek "Brown" look

The Prime Minister of England Gordon Brown has been approached by many British citizens who have invested in property in Goa to seek his intervention to request the Indian government to resolve the problem of their properties purchased by them being left unregistered.

The petition led by Andrew Davies has been signed by over 125  people on the 10 downing street website addressed to the Prime Minister due to the problems faced by British citizens during purchasing and registering their properties in Goa. The petition reads that " We petition the prime Minster to approach government of India and request it to take cognisance of and correct the unlawful actions of the government of Goa whereby the sub-registrars have been instructed not to order the registration of deeds relating to the sale of immovable property where one of the parties to the transaction is a foreign national. This is in direct contravention of the 1908 Registration Act"

Further the petition seeks the intervention of the Indian government to to ensure that the department of revenue, directorate of enforcement acts judiciously when investigating alleged infringements of FEMA and is not being used to harass foreign nationals who have bought property in Goa.

The petitioners pointed out that the sub-registrars stopped accepting foreigners deeds after August 2006 and informed that over 400 British citizens who had bought property prior to August 2006 are currently being investigated by the directorate with threats of confiscation of the property.

Adding another twist, the petitioners referred to over 50,000 people of Goan origin or birth living in the UK and expressed hope that they are happy and well-treated in fairness and justice and sought merely the same courtesies to be extended to them by the government of Goa

Air-conditioner sales get a boost in Goan summer

The sale of air conditioners in Goa has risen exponentially  in the past couple of months as citizens try to desperately beat the heat in Goa by resorting to cool down the temperatures in offices, shops and homes in Goa through the use of cooling systems.

So traders in Goa who normally sell around five air conditioners per month are now selling around 30 per month thanks to the increased humidity in the state in the month of April and May this year. Also air cooler units blowing cool air, have also seen robust sales this year thanks to the heat in Goa and traders are on song selling a record number of air-coolers in Goa this year.

The popular brands of air-conditioners in Goa range in prices from Rs 16,000 to around 47,000 depending on the type of brand and the capacity. However the 1 tonne and the 1.5 tonne air conditioners are reportedly very popular owing to their mid range size. The brands available in the Goan market are Samsung, Hitachi, LG, Onida, Daikin, Godrej, Blue star , General and Voltas.

It is also notable that the modern air conditioners sold in Goa consume lesser electricity for its use compared to the older models sold a few years back due to which the general public prefers to use an air conditioner compared to earlier trends.

The older generation of airconditioners employed toxic or flammable gases like ammonia, methyl chloride and propane. The usage of such gases could result in fatal accidents when they leaked. In the year 1928, Thomas Midgley Jr, created the first Chlorofluorocarbon gas, Freon, which was much safer for human beings but was later found to be harmful to the ozone layer of the atmosphere.

The blend mostly used in homes and buildings was an HCFC known as R-22. But it is to be phased out for use in new equipment by 2010 and completely discontinued by 2020.

However several non ozone depleting refrigerants have been developed as alternatives including R-410A, known by the brand name of Puron.

Room air-conditioners normally come in two forms or constructions. Unitary and split or packaged terminal PTAC systems. Unitary systems or the common one-room air conditioners sit in the window or wall opening with interior controls. Interior air is cooled as a fan blows it over the evaporator. On the exterior, the air is heated as a second fan blows it over the condenser.

The split AC ( PTAC) on the other hand is frequently used in offices, shops and hotels. It has two separate units ( terminal packages) , the evaporative unit on the exterior and the condensing unit on the interior with tubing passing through the wall and connecting them. This minimises the interior system footprint and allows each room to be adjusted independently.

So how does a Goan make a choice about what kind of AC he should fit in his house , shop or office. here is some advice.

If you want a nice neat look in your premises, the Split AC is a good option. Also if you didn't want to mess with the window, split would be a good idea. Besides if you don't like the external of a window AC hanging out, a split may be a prudent decision. Also the compressor of the split can be located at a far distance through tubing. However if tubing and compressor for split is a problem then surely Window AC is the way to go.

Split AC is also expensive on the budget and you may want to look at that too before making a decision. Window ACs are cheaper and 
subject to the above, both AC's have similar functions in operations and makes no difference to comfort levels.

Cheap stay in Goa

A cheap holiday in Goa is the question uppermost in many minds. By cheap holiday, nobody wants to actually compromise on the luxury of the holiday. What is desired however, is a holiday which can offer the best of everything in Goa but at a reasonably low cost.

The feeling of a cheap holiday in Goa is not only nursed by the budget travelers but in recent times even the affluent tourist visiting Goa has the question uppermost in his mind. While part of the reason may be attributed to the world recession which has affected many plans of leisure all over the world, Goa is still seen as a destination of a great holiday unwinding for the world tourist as well as the Indian tourist at a fraction of the cost spent on the more famous locations of the world while offering near perfect hospitality.

Goa is naturally endowed with beauty which was initially made famous only through word of mouth publicity after the hippies first  'discovered' its serenity in the early sixties and the news has only spread far and wide to ensure that Goa's plate is full almost throughout the year.

More tourists has naturally meant more business in Goa and therefore more hotels, resorts, rent back homes, apartments and rest homes all over Goa. This has also meant a rise in costs of accommodation in Goa. However for the tourist looking for cheap accommodation it can always be dicey while choosing a place to stay for various durations of a holiday.

While a cheap stay does not mean a cheap room or cheap facilities, tourist run the risk of being offered sub-standard accommodation when they normally enquire for cheap accommodation in Goa. What essentially these tourists desire is good and reasonably luxurious accommodation at a cheaper cost. However do they get it? Unfortunately most often, not.

The reason is that most unplanned holidays can mean being stuffed into an unfriendly hotel room due to the misguided directions upon landing in Goa from various motorcycle pilots or taxi men who are normally out to make a fast buck out of a tired tourist with little or no information.

The answer therefore lies in making a planned holiday. Planning can also be made just before leaving your location for Goa by going online and enquiring on the vast options for a cheap but luxurious stay in Goa. "Goa Living Styles" is a good resource to enquire about the various options for a cheap stay in Goa.  After all good accommodation is a peace of mind on a tired holiday when costs on stay need to be kept on a minimum while enjoyment and luxury has to be optimum.

For options with Goa Living Styles, Click here and send them an enquiry. You should get a quick response.

Wish everyone coming to Goa, a pleasant holiday indeed.

Cheap accommodation in Goa

For the avid tourist coming to Goa, the question uppermost in the mind is how to keep the cost of touring low and level of entertainment high.  The world tourist or the Indian tourist planning a trip to Goa or on a tour of Goa have therefore subconsciously got the word " cheap" spilling out of their mouth, which often traps them into settling for substandard accommodation at a price which could have offered them much better in Goa.

The idea that the tourists actually come with, is to keep the cost of accommodation as cheap as possible while also ensuring that it is  upto the mark. For tourists arriving in Goa, looking out for the right accommodation can often be a nightmare. Like all places in India, Goa is also infested with touts and agents who want to make that quick buck without actually caring about the kind of accommodation that they can guide you to.

It is common for  tourists arriving in Goa to be poached at the Railway stations , bus stops or even at the airports and huddled off into cabs to be dropped at an unsuspecting hotel or lodge in Goa which most often than not, turns out to be substandard to the requirements, leaving the tired visitor unhappy with the place. Motorcycle pilots and rickshaw drivers are all part of this skillful job of convincing tourists about an exciting place, wherein  the actual place as discovered by tourists later is quite much the contrary.

Th e reason that motorcycle pilots and rickshaw owners or cabbies guide tourists to substandard accommodation is because they are paid a handsome commission by the owners of such places. The beneficiary here is only the owner and the agent and the customer is left at his wits end.

While people are flocking to Goa to get a taste of its beautiful scenery, sun tanned Goan beaches, delicious cuisine, and a west influenced culture, tourists are also seeking to stay in a place which they find comfortable by all means. No one is interested in checking into hotel rooms with creaking beds, scent of mildew or with bathrooms which are unhygienic and carelessly maintained.

So while cheap accommodation may be the desire, no one is willing to compromise the word " cheap" with the quality of accommodation which may be offered. What the tourist actually means by cheap accommodation in Goa, is good. clean and pleasant accommodation at a cheap cost. However most of the agents and touts use this word " cheap" to put the tourists on the back foot and lure them into accepting sub standard accommodation which can actually ruin a holiday. 

I have observed that tourists who come without any planning for their holiday in Goa are often victims of such misguided and unsuitable accommodation which often leaves a bad taste. There are  some tourists who despite an unplanned holiday, are willing to move from location to location along with the agent in quest of the most suitable accommodation of their wish and are unwilling to settle for anything less. However after a long outstation journey, this search can add to the tiredness and often tourists finally compromise for a raw deal.

Planned holiday to Goa is therefore essential to ensure that the holiday is a pleasant one which can leave happy memories. There are however some good places inside Goa which can offer various options of cheap but high quality accommodation at affordable prices.

Tourists coming to Goa will always find many hotels expensive due to their higher tariffs. Also hotels are often crammed to fit in everything in one room and a small family often finds the space too little especially with the kids around.

The answer to this problem is to book self contained apartments in Goa, which are equipped with all the requirements of a hotel minus the paucity of space. Also the added benefit in these apartments is the availability of resources such as television with cable connectivity, gas connection, utensils for cooking, kitchen area, split air conditioning, refrigerator, geyser, crisp bedding etc.

Also the rooms are often spacious with a main hall , a sofa with a dining table and a double bedroom with a cupboard area. The cost involved is much lower than the hotels in Goa, offering lesser resources but higher tariffs. Also since hotels are large properties their maintenance is often found wanting. However apartments in Goa are maintained by individual owners who give special attention to their place to ensure good customer satisfaction and  return business in the long run unlike the well known hotels who often take customers for granted.

" Good Living Styles" is a resourceful place in Goa where the above requirements are well met and I have often found that clients are returning back for a holiday every year to the same place having experienced a nice holiday before. To book accommodation which is cheap in Goa with the best of amenities at beach side locations, click here.

Wish all tourists arriving in Goa, a happy holiday.

Goa tourism and Goa hotels

Goa is on the world map of tourism. It is one of those places where the world tourist is having a keen eye for. Since the hippies made it famous in the sixties, Goa has found a continuous stream of people discovering it as a new haven. From the UK to Sweden to Finland and recently Russia and Israel tourism is the hallmark of this great place which basks in the glory of sun sea and sand.

For the Indian touristGoa with its rich beauty, affable people and clean surroundings is just the right kind of place you would want to chill out at after weeks and months of a monotonous lifestyle. Just bask in the sun or soak in the waters of the beach, wade through rivers and lakes, steal a look at the rich cultural heritage and the culture, sip some local brew called "Feni" sink your teeth into some delicious Goan food with fish or simply laze in the sand.Goa offers it to you all!

Accomodation in Goa is plentiful. Every kind of accomodation is available in Goa for all budgets. From the swanky seven star hotels to the poor mans' guest houses, Goa has a place for everyone. In Goa, apartments on rent are also available in abundance. But one has to be careful in choosing the right place and the right location. For good vast options in hotels in goa, the better option clearly seems to be HOTELS COMBINED who have various categories to choose from. To enquire with hotelscombined for various options CLICK HERE

For apartments in Goa a good source is "Goa Living styles" who can be contacted HERE.

Wishing everyone a pleasant stay in the paradise called Goa.

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