Goa tourism industry welcomes relaxation in visa norms

Panaji, Jun 25: Goa tourism industry has welcomed central government's decision to give certain relaxations in the visa norms, that would help attract more tourists to the beach destination.

Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) spokesman Ralph D'Souza told reporters here that the new norms will help to increase flow of European tourists in the state.

Goa attracts around four lakh foreigners and tourism industry had raised fears that the number might drop down due to stringent visa regulations.

D'Souza said that the central government has now allowed multiple entry visas and stay in India for 180 days spread over a year. He said that Goa receives 40 per cent repeat clientele and some of them visits twice or thrice a year.

"The existing visa norms were impediment to their repeat visits, which are now altered for better future of tourism industry," D'Souza said.

PTI