Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (MB)
Report and pics from special correspondent

Panaji, Sep 29: While tourism has become a major industry in Goa, the substantial benefit of this boom is also shared by the women, industry experts feel.

"Nearly 25 per cent of Goan population is employed either directly or indirectly in tourism sector and of this substantial benefit is enjoyed by women too," Sanjith Rodrigues, managing director, Goa tourism development corporation, stated.

A few of women enterpreneurs who have benefited from the tourism boom, participating in the event at Miramar organized by Goa Tourism Development Corporation.

"Goa is one amongst the few tourist destinations where women are playing vital role in the tourism development," Rodrigues said at the backdrop of GTDC-organized special event at famous Miramar beach titled "Tourism opens door of opportunities for women’’ to commemorate World Tourism Day.

While many women are directly working for the travel industry, many contribute in their own way to make tourists’ Goa trip a memorable one.

"I have tourists from Australia, Canada, London and other European countries asking for my products," stated Theresa D’Souza, who owns the venture "Theresa’s Goan Masala".

D’Souza, who has her small-scale unit in Mapusa town, prepares 17 variations of masalas. "It’s not just foreigners, the domestic tourists too like to carry these masalas," she said.

Employing six other women in the trade, D’Souza supplies her products through various outlets spread across the state. She has won the Governor’s medal for her products last year.

Similar is the case of Maria Luiza D’Mello who runs her venture "Judelia Handicraft" in south Goa. "Foreigners usually prefer to take back handicraft items or embroidery or crochet as a souvenir… the craze is also picking up amongst the domestic tourists," D’Mello said.

Interestingly, besides the embroidery and other gift items, baby packages are in high demand with the foreign visitors. "We deal in baby package and the demand is huge" she stated.

D’Mello, who is an active member of All India womens’ conference, concedes that tourism has brought in positive changes in the lives of women in goa.

Says GTDC MD Rodrigues, "Goa is one amongst the few destinations where women are actively involved in the trade. They don’t only help to cater to the boom but also support their households."