Goa leaps forward with heli-tourism

With 'Carnivals of the World Merge' theme, Goa Carnaval 2016 has gone international, hosting artists from Europe and South Africa. Managing Director, Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), shares the new initiatives of Goa Tourism and expectations fr

What is new at the Goa Carnaval this year?

Goa is the only state in India to have a formal carnival with a legacy of over 100 years. The carnival will be observed in four key cities of Goa namely Panjim, Margao, Vasco and Mapusa from February 6-9, 2016. Goa has truly gone international this year with a theme, 'Carnivals of the World Merge', where cultures are being adapted from South Africa and Europe. Artists from the Liverpool Carnival of United Kingdom and the South Africa Carnival of South Africa along with Goa Carnaval from India will travel in a cross cultural exchange. The European Commission has taken up Goa Carnaval as one of the case studies to study and assimilate the various carnival cultures of the world and share best practices.

What are your expectations from the carnival?

We are expecting at least four lakh tourists spread over the week. Even though our peak seasons are till end of December, through festival tourism, the early months of the year are added to the