log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline TUESDAY DECEMBER 10, 2024 GOA Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 15 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 173 Borim bridge: Govt to offer special compensation package to farmers 2 GOA Two Anjuna nightclubs issued notices, FIR against another 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO A guide to overcoming depression in women DESPITE TRAVEL MARTS & ROAD SHOWS… Goa struggles to attract international tourists STATE WELCOMED OVER 1MN TOURISTS LAST YEAR OF WHICH ONLY 4% WERE FOREIGN VISITORS, REVEALS RS DATA THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Even after participating in nearly a dozen of international travel marts and road shows, Goa seems to have failed to attract foreign tourists. Last year, the State welcomed over one million tourists, of which only 4 per cent comprised international visitors. Interestingly, there is a marginal rise in the foreign tourist arrival in the State as compared to the immediate  post pandemic years.  This information was provided by the Union Civil Aviation Ministry to Rajya Sabha, to a question tabled by Goa’s Member of Parliament Sadanand Shet Tanavade. According to the Ministry, the State received a total of 1,12,78,495 domestic and international tourists at the two airports -- Dabolim and Manohar International Airport, GOA TOURISM: FACTS & FIGURES „„State received 1,12,78,495 domestic and international tourists at Dabolim & Mopa airports „„5,42,377 were international visitors „„Compared to 2022-23, State welcomed 75,000 more foreign tourists last year „„Dabolim airport handled 68,72,411 tourists last year „„MIA received 44,06,087 visitors „„Dabolim welcomed a total of 64,45,322 domestic tourists and 4,27,089 foreign „„At Mopa, the foreign arrival figures were 1,15,288 FACT FILE: Goa is currently operating with two airports and it has helped in boosting tourism and enhancing connectivity Mopa. Of these, 5,42,377 were international visitors. However, compared to 2022-23, the State received 75,000 more foreign tourists last year. “Goa is currently operating with two airports and it has helped in boosting tourism and enhancing connectivity,” the Ministry said in its reply. While Dabolim airport handled 68,72,411 tourists last THE GOA CONNECTION „„Mopa airport is connected with international cities -- Gatwick, Muscat, Doha, Sharjah, Sheremetyevo, Tashkent, Yekaterinburg, Moscow and Warsaw „„Dabolim airport is currently connected with international cities namely Dubai, Manama and Almaty year, MIA received 44,06,087 visitors. Dabolim welcomed, total of 64,45,322 domestic tourists and 4,27,089 foreign, at Mopa, the foreign arrival figures were 1,15,288. MIA welcomed 42,90,799 domestic tourists. Despite Mopa having the maximum international connection, the foreign arrival was subsequently on the lower side. Mopa airport is connected with international cities namely, Gatwick, Muscat, Doha, Sharjah, Sheremetyevo, Tashkent, Yekaterinburg, Moscow, Warsaw and Dabolim Airport is currently connected with international cities namely, Dubai, Manama and Almaty. MIA commenced operation from January 2023, with International flights taking off in mid last financial year. As per the data, in 202223, Dabolim airport recorded 83,59,393 tourists of which 4,67,410 were foreign visitors.   Post pandemic, that is in 2021-22, almost 1,04,200 had visited the coastal State as against 39,866 prior to that.  10 SPORTS World Chess C’ship: Gukesh loses to Liren in 12th game Goa drowns in sea of plastic PANAJI: Despite generating over 29,000 tonnes of plastic waste on an average annually, Goa is one among those few States who have failed to setup Plastic Waste Management Unit 15 in village blocks -- one of the prime criteria of Swacch Bharat Mission (Gramin).  >> See pg 3