Panaji, Dec 24 (PTI) Tourists usually throng Goa during Christmas but this year seem to have given the coastal state a miss, as both foreign and domestic tourist arrivals have dropped 30 per cent, a local industry association said today.
Goa is known for its night-long parties which begin from Christmas (December 25) and continue till December 31 mid-night.
“As far as Christmas is concerned, there has been drop in foreign and domestic tourist arrival by almost 30 per cent compared to last year,” Savio Messiah, President, Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), told PTI.
Messiah claimed that the factors “like GST” have affected the high-end tourists while many have refused to come because of the “high air-fares” and “high cost of holiday” in the state.
Messiah said the situation will hopefully improve during the New Year celebrations with more people arriving in the state.
However, Goa tourism department claims the tourists have just begun arriving and the number would go up during the coming week.
“The tourists have already begun arriving in the state.
