The Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, welcomed a travel trade delegation from Almaty, Kazakhstan, at Paryatan Bhavan as part of a familiarization (FAM) trip aimed at strengthening tourism collaboration and promoting Goa as a preferred international destination.
The delegation visit was facilitated by Shri Ernest Dias, Chief Operating Officer of TCI and SITA, who has been instrumental in bringing the group to Goa to experience the State’s diverse tourism offerings firsthand.
Present to receive the delegation were Shri Kedar Naik, Director of Tourism; Shri Jayesh Kankonkar, Assistant Director (Tourism); Shri Gavin Dias, General Manager, GTDC; Shri Deepak Narvekar, Deputy General Manager (Hotels & Marketing); Smt. Chitra Vengurlekar, Assistant Tourist Officer; Shri Ernest Dias, Chief Operating Officer of TCI and SITA, along with officials from the Department of Tourism and representatives from the tourism industry.
Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Shri Rohan A. Khaunte stated “Goa continues to strengthen its engagement with emerging international markets, and Kazakhstan represents a promising region for tourism growth. Such familiarization visits play an important role in allowing travel trade partners to experience Goa firsthand and showcase the State’s diverse offerings to their audiences. We remain committed to building meaningful global partnerships while ensuring that every visitor enjoys a memorable and enriching stay in Goa.”
Director of Tourism, Shri Kedar Naik, welcomed the delegation and highlighted that such initiatives help create stronger connections with international travel partners. “Familiarization visits such as these are an important step in strengthening Goa’s engagement with emerging international markets like Kazakhstan. By experiencing the destination firsthand, travel partners gain deeper insight into Goa’s diverse offerings, from culture and heritage to wellness and experiential tourism, which enables them to effectively promote Goa to travellers from their region.”
During the visit, Shri Gavin Dias delivered a detailed presentation highlighting Goa’s diverse tourism experiences, including its cultural heritage, festivals, wellness and spiritual tourism, adventure activities, cuisine, and premium hospitality offerings. The presentation also emphasized the State’s focus on promoting new experiences under the Goa Beyond Beaches initiative.
As part of their itinerary, the delegation will explore several attractions across the State over the course of their visit, including heritage sites, spice plantations, and other experiential tourism offerings, gaining deeper insights into Goa’s tourism ecosystem.
The Department of Tourism remains committed to strengthening international outreach and fostering collaborations with global travel trade partners to further enhance Goa’s presence in emerging tourism markets.
