Music may be balm for Goa’s struggling tourist industry
MUSIC could just save Goa’s foundering tourist season this year.
Members of the industry fear that the number of Russian charter tourists to the tiny Indian state could drop 30% this year, largely due to the troubles in Ukraine — but they hope that music festivals lined up to celebrate the end of the year could see the tourist season through.
The first big electronic dance music event of the season, Oktoberfest Goa 2014, has already set the ball rolling at Baga, a popular beach in North Goa, with a three-day event where international musicians and DJs performed with local musicians.
Event organiser Munna Ruknuddin said: “International artists are interested in performing in India because of the growing interest and large fanbase in the country. Hence we see artists from all over the world coming to India for individual performances and festivals.”
Wild music parties are not new to Goa. It has long been a hub for trance music thanks to the hippy presence in the former Portuguese territory in the ’60s and ’70s.
But there is more to Goa’s tryst with music, said a spokesman for Sunburn, billed as Goa’s biggest music festival. Sunburn pioneered electronic dance music parties in the state.
“Goa has a long history of music events, from traditional Konkani songs to Portuguese orchestras to Goa trance. Goa is the ultimate tourist destination and the pride of India,” the spokesman said.
This year’s festival will take place at Vagator Beach from December 27 to 29.
The organisers claimed that eight of the world’s top 10 DJs performed at the festival last year, and had helped to increase the maturity of locals who liked electronic dance music.
“Fans are experimenting and finding new genres that they appreciate and dedicate themselves to,” the spokesman said.
The other mega event of the year is VH1 Supersonic, organised by Integrated Network Solutions. The company’s head of business, Jaideep Singh, said Goa is the perfect backdrop for music festivals, “with its clear blue skies, calming waters, swaying palm trees, white sandy beaches and beautiful weather”.
Singh, quoting a survey by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and auditing and advisory firm KPMG on the Indian media and entertainment industry, said: “Music events have continued to hold a large share in the overall live events pie.”
The four-day festival, which begins on December 27, is expected to attract more than 120 000 people.
Singh said: “We had about 110 DJs who performed last year and the numbers will only go up this year, with a mix of new and established names.”
Goa attracts about three million tourists annually, of whom half a million are foreigners, mostly Russians.
But the European economic slump, the RussiaUkraine conflict and the bankruptcy of several Russian tour operators means that Goa’s tourist industry is likely to take a knock this year.— IndoAsian News Service