Panaji, June 24 (TNN): Even before the clamour over the Goa ministers and MLAs junket to Brazil can die down, the state's politicians are planning another trip abroad.
The state tourism department has proposed a 8-9 day tour of Europe to promote the upcoming exposition of the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier scheduled to begin from November 22. The tour, according to tourism minister Dilip Parulekar, is to attract European tourists to Goa.
Just over a week ago, the state government was forced to cancel a junket for six ministers and MLAs to the Fifa World Cup in Brazil after TOI had broken the story of the tour that was to be paid for by public money. The resulting public outcry had sent the government scampering to cancel the tour.
Sources said the planned Europe tour and publicity in foreign publications has been budgeted at 4 crore. Parulekar said promotion and marketing in Europe will bring in 50,000 to a lakh more foreign tourists. He said the tour has not yet been finalized, but a proposal has been submitted to the Union tourism ministry and the tour will happen subject to approval, with the Centre bearing half the cost.
Asked whether publicity at so late a stage would bring results, the tourism minister said 'negative thinking' will not take Goa tourism anywhere.
"Goa tourism should not stop branding and marketing," Parulekar said.
The European tour with focus on Spain, where St Francis Xavier was born. Xavier was a Basque missionary who came to Goa in the XVI century. He died off China and his body was brought to Goa. His sacred relics lie at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa. Every ten years Xavier's sacred relics are brought down from the mausoleum for the faithful to venerate.
The proposed trip has drawn some criticism.
"There is no need to send any delegation to Spain or Europe in the name of attracting tourists in Goa. Instead there are several projects that can attract tourists and the government must stress on them," Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Maharashtra spokesperson Arvind Pansare said.
Travel and tourism association of Goa (TTAG), a body of tour operators, hoteliers and other stakeholders is highly skeptical of the tourism department's ability to increase its tally of foreign tourists through this proposed tour.
Claiming that TTAG has not been intimated about the proposed tour, TTAG chairman Francisco de Braganca said the trip will be a waste of money and time.
"The Jesuits and the church have an effective network that reaches out to all the faithful who are the principal visitors for this. Road shows and other promotions in Spain and other parts of Europe will not help at all," he said.
"Religious tourism is a specialized sector. Those who propose to come for the exposition planned their trip the day it was announced. People from Spain are not going to come. We have this misconception that Spanish tourists will come to Goa because St Francis Xavier was a Spanish priest. Hardly any people from Spain come to Goa," Braganca said.