Challenges for Destination Managers: the Indian Experience - Case Study Example

Challenges for Destination Managers Critically analyse the challenges facing destinations managers within a dynamic, competitive & unpredictable environment Name: Maristta Sha MA Course: Destination Management Instructor: Mr. Lou Johnson Date: March 19, 2007 The Indian Experience Introduction: Tourism is a diverse industry, comprised of living and growing factors. The world’s largest industry is always dynamic, competitive and unpredictable, just like the factors that govern them. Destination managers have a significant role to play in critically analysing the feasibility of specified destinations to convert them into successful and sustained tourist centres. The Indian subcontinent is fast becoming popular as a favoured tourist spot, according to a 280 page report, “Total Tourism India”, released by Pacific Asia Travel Association, PATA and Visa International, in February 2007. An analysis of the challenges, it sets in store for tourism managers, would be worth an endeavour. "Why India?" “Atithi Devo Bhava” say the Indians in Sanskrit. Translated, it means “Guest is God”. It is this mind-set that governs the principle of interpersonal relationships in India. Tourists, their guests, are always warmly welcomed and drawn into the rich kaleidoscope of custom, traditions and cultural ambience, according to the “Incredible India” website, maintained by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, (2004). A phenomenal growth in tourism, in India, bringing in about $30 billion in the next six years, is predicted by the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Tourism Satellite Account Research, sponsored by Accenture and prepared by Oxford Economics. (Source “Travel; Daily News” A daily Travel and Tourism Newsletter for the International Travel Trade Market since 1999 [Internet]. Available from http://www.traveldailynews.com/new.asp?newid=35987&subcategory_id=95 This reflects the eminence to which the country has risen in attracting tourists, both domestic and international. Factors that have helped create this distinction are Extensive variety in the places of interest Relatively low cost of living A vast majority of English speaking people Variety of sports, novel health spas and interesting cuisine Well connected by rail, road and air within the country and internationally (Source: [Internet], Available from http://www.tourismindia.com) This paper examines the challenges faced with reference to the tiny state of Goa, on the Southwestern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Why Goa? Goa ranks first in India in providing infrastructure facilities and the first place in Quality of Life, according the National Commission on Population Report (2002) as told by Manohar Panikkar, Chief Minister of Goa, in his speech at the 50th National Development Council Meeting on 21st December 2002 at New Delhi. (Source [Internet], Available from http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/pl50ndc/goa.doc) A glimpse of Goa With the soubriquet of “Pearl of the Orient”, according to the Official website of the Department of Tourism, Goa India. Goa is a state nestling between the Western hills and the Arabian Sea, on the West coast of India. It is the smallest state in the country (3702 square kilometres) boasting of a superior environment, vast bio reserve assets, and a beautiful coastline. (Source:[Internet] Available from www.goatourism.org). SWOT- Analysis of the Goan environment A SWOT analysis is instrumental in facilitating clarity in planning, and creating a sustainable market, (according to web definition from http://www.thequalityportal.com/glossary/s.htm), for a product, in this case - the State of Goa, India. Strengths The main attractions of Goa are the beaches, churches, chapels, temples, mosques, heritage towns, museum and art galleries, wild life sanctuaries, and springs. Beaches: There are 29 beaches of which 12 are in North Goa and 17 in the southern part of the state. Most people visit the northern beaches. The South Goa beaches when developed allow for more accommodation of tourists The churches are of the 16th century and have been built in the early baroque, Renaissance, Mannueline and Gothic architecture The temples are distinct in style with their domes and sloping roofs of red tile. The beauty of the presiding deity is enhanced by wood painting, ornamental lamps, and chandeliers The heritage towns and the museums and art galleries are of significant historical importance One national park (Mollem national Park) and four wild life sanctuaries (Bondla Wildlife sanctuary, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, The Mandovi Zuari Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary) offer a great bio-diverse experience, with a variety of flora and fauna. Waterfalls, lakes and springs offer good tourist attraction, with some springs boasting of medicinal properties (The springs near Baga beach are known for their medicinal properties = Source [Internet] available from http://www.indialine.com/travel/goa/lakes-springs-waterfalls.html) Tourism in Goa generates a sizable percent of the country’s foreign exchange A rich marine resource and enviable bio diverse reserves People of the state are renowned for their good nature and friendly acceptance of visitors. They have a high literacy rate and per capita income as compared to the rest of the country Adapted from “Geographical Information System(GIS):Information Technology for planning management and development of GOA tourism master plan in the next millennium” by Dr. Pandey PK and Chakrobothy, Ruma, at http://www.gisdevelopment.net/application/miscellaneous/misc018.htm Weaknesses Depletion or harm caused to environment in the manner of Loss of mangroves at Sao Pedro Unscientific fishing practice and a reduced fish catch (as in the Sancoale –Chicalim Bay) Erosion of the sediment as seen in a number of locations like Palolem and Agonda Erosion of sand dunes as seen in the Colva, Salcete and Anjuna beaches, due to tides reaching further inland Species of wildlife becoming endangered, as the four species of turtles that are seen in beaches such as Bogmalo and Miramar Inadequacies in facilities Water drawn for the swimming pools decreases the ground water levels Increased concrete constructions closer to the beach to cater to the rising number of visitors Beaches littered with plastic and paper Inefficiency in Administration Infra-structural reforms Disposal of waste is inefficient because Goa still does not possess modern treatment and disposal plants for sewage and garbage (Adapted from the article “Tourism and Environment Issues of Concern in the coastal Zone of Goa” by Kalidas Sawkar, Ligia Noronha, Antonio Mascarenhas and OS Chauhan, 1998, Economic Development Institute of the World Bank, 38 pages, Stock No 37314) Opportunities Factors beyond the referenced destination that strengthens its tourism potential are The growing interest of the world in India as it exhibits economic growth. The 2004 statistics showed a phenomenal 13% rise in the number of tourists who came to India. Among the 4 million tourists who visited India annually, 2 million visited Goa. One in every 15 British tourists in India, visited Goa (Source: The Website “Neoncarrot” available from http://www.neoncarrot.co.uk/h_aboutindia/india_tourism_stats.html) Economical travel packages because of its relatively inexpensive cost of living Entrepreneurial interest in the state to develop land for tourist homes and techno parks. There is “a growing consciousness of Goans worldwide that they are intimately linked to their homeland and they can draw benefits by interacting with other Goan communities” (taken from “The Net-Worker” by Xavier, Constantino, Journal, Goan Observer, January 15-21, 2005) Favourable word of mouth commendations by tourists who visited the destination Word-of-mouth is a marketer’s dream. It is an amazingly powerful; force that every product manufacturer wants but at the same time. Goa has an amazing legacy of travellers who have spread its popularity. (Source: “The power of the word-of-mouth message”, by Bhatt, Mahesh, The Financial Express, may 9, 2006) Threats Depletion of the coastline due to urbanization –“With increasing urbanization and industrialization, coastal areas of all tropical littoral countries have been subjected to considerable environment stress” (Source [Internet] available from http://www.mangroveindia.org/resour1.php?query=SONNERATIA%20ALBA&p=MAN) Incidence of alcoholism and drug abuse among the people – “In the name of tourism and development, there has been an unprecedented growth in the number of bars, pubs and liquor shops all over Goa” – (Source: “Culture, Drug Abuse and some Reflections on the family” by M Charles, E J Masihi, H Y Siddiqui, SV Joga Rao, H D’Lima, U Mehta, G Britto, Publication of United Nations Office of Drug and Crime, January, 1994) The vast turnover of the tourist industry gets siphoned off to various other units leaving pretty much less for the local people. Besides, the bigger states in Goa’s neighbourhood claim their share of funds for the services they provide by means of raw materials, expertise and manpower – “The situation in Goa is rather complex, largely due to the number of stakeholders involved in the tourism industry, luxury hotels, family-run guest houses, the needs of tourists, local residents, and other sectors of the economy” - (From the article “Tourism and Environment Issues of Concern in the coastal Zone of Goa” by Kalidas Sawkar, Ligia Noronha, Antonio Mascarenhas and OS Chauhan, 1998, Economic Development Institute of the World Bank, 38 pages, Stock No 37314) “Goa will reach saturation point in terms of carrying capacity in the year 2018. Unless priority is given to development of resources, there is no hope for Goa to keep creating better tourism experiences for tourists.” (Source: “The Tourism Industry of Goa current Status and Future Potential”, by Dr. Dayanand MS, Senior Lecturer, Department of Management Studies, Goa University, [internet] available from http://www.internationalcentregoa.com/Paper%20by%20Dayanand%20M%20S.pdf ) PESTEL Analysis “The PESTEL analysis tool is a valuable framework for identifying opportunities and threats in the macro (external) environment.” (Source Student Work Zone.com [Internet] available from http://www.studentworkzone.com/question.php?ID=42 Applying the PESTEL Analysis strategy to evaluate the tourism environment of Goa, the factors can be re-delegated under the heads of Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal. Political: The State Government devised an aggressive tourism promotion campaign called “Go Goa” a few years ago, (Source Goa Blog [Internet] available from www.goablog.org which opened the doors wider for people from India and all over the world, offering them better facilities for boarding, lodging, sports and sightseeing in the state. However, there are instances of various projects not seeing the light of the day as they get trapped in a whirlpool of bureaucracy. Economic Incentives have been offered to entrepreneurs to set up Technology/Software Parks to boost the economy. Non - government agencies are invited to work hand in hand with the government for partially financing various projects. The vast income generated by tourism, if completely invested back in the industry, may bring about a startling improvement in infrastructure. (Source: Tourism and Environment: Case Studies of Goa, India and the Maldives By Kalidas Sawkar, Ligia Noronha, Antonio Mascarenhas, O S Chauhan, and Simad Saeed) Social To give tourism a boost, various projects are initiated (like employment opportunities and entrepreneurship in Fisheries, handicrafts, Agriculture and Cottage Industries and export of local products like food). Income generated comprises of both domestic and international spending. Moreover the projects also provide excellent employment opportunities for the local people. Source: Tourism and Environment: Case Studies of Goa, India and the Maldives By Kalidas Sawkar, Ligia Noronha, Antonio Mascarenhas, O S Chauhan, and Simad Saeed) A platform for the tourists to know and understand the culture of the people in the lands they visit needs to be created. For instance, the Goan carnival is celebrated in February. It is based on the lines of the carnival in Rio de Janeiro, but imbibes considerably from Indian culture. (Source [Internet] available from http://goatravelguide.com/goa-culture/carnival.html Special package tours, bringing tourists to Goa in this time can create can be a promotional campaign. For instance, The Indian Holiday Pvt Ltd provides a carnival tour package at an affordable cost. Technological It is generally considered that technological advances herald changes in the economy, and can revive any industry onto a better earning capability. India has one of the fastest growing technical manpower resources, with Internet and mobile connectivity far exceeding predicted figures. (Source: http://www.euromonitor.com/) It is no wonder that it is said “India will be Asia’s fastest growing market for online travel retail by 2010, according to global market analysts.” (Source: http://www.euromonitor.com/Travel_And_Tourism_in_India). Environmental As an ecotourism site Goa has a great potential for development. Various measures are taken by the government to maintain the rich biodiversity intact. The Government has formulated a policy for the citizens living near the bioreserve to become volunteers to preserve the habitat. The attraction such sites offer for tourists, though bringing in much needed revenue, can have a detrimental effect on the site itself, due to overcrowding and persistent degradation of resources available. (Source: Documentation of the Best practices adopted by the State Governments for the Development of Tourism –Volume II, State Profiles and Tourism Development, Government of India, Ministry of Tourism, November, 2005) Legal Various laws and their amendments seek to protect the resources and beauty of every tourist spot. Most important are those that deal with curtailing Extensive urbanization Setting up of industries that increase pollution. The laws are broadly classified under the heads Deforestation and Environment Conservation and forests Wildlife Protection Act 1972 Indian Forest Act Forest Conservation Act 1980 (Source: Website of VM Salgaonkar College of Law, Goa, India – www.vmslaw.edu) Yet, there are instances when voluntary environmental groups encounter cases where the government sanctions permission for industries that may cause pollution. Attempt is made to assist the government in promoting projects that Promote tourism Provide meaningful opportunities for the local people Improve economic growth (Source: Website: http://www.goanews.com/22oct99.htm) Global drivers for change Integrating the factors that affect tourism, and seeking techniques to convert the weaknesses into strengths and the threats to opportunities, should be the foremost task of any destination manager, according to marketing experts. In this attempt he needs to consider significantly the global drivers that change the face of international events. These components are usually a dynamic combination of rapid increase in population and the existing political, economic and social environment. While these factors considered separately can be comprehended for analysis, it is the resultant reaction to these factors by the groups involved that becomes a predominant tool to help devise efficient marketing strategies. (Adapted from the website www.futurestrust.com) This may be a complicated exercise, in which care is taken to allow for possible inconsistencies, when humans and the eco system come together to create the environment for tourism. For example, when urbanization threatens to encroach upon sites of beautiful mansions, built in colonial style, it makes good sense to convert manors available for rent or ownership to resorts thereby both protecting the heritage site, creating a source of income fort he previous owners/residents and creating avenues for more tourist intake. A destination manager needs to seek effective strategies, which are a blend of tried and tested tactics and innovative approaches, peculiar and unique to the destination in question, to overcome most of the hurdles. Before evolving a strategic plan for sustainable development based on the critical analyses above, let us look into the trends in tourism of the present day. Key Trends in International Tourism People aged above 65 are healthier, richer and more aware than the 65 year olds 20 years ago. They are thus free to travel with a vast choice of destinations. They present a large group of travellers all over the world. Air travel all over the world has increased by a considerable level, with people travelling to further and more exotic locales to derive unique tourist experience Internet creates unprecedented initiatives in online travel awareness, enquiry and booking. A vast majority of bookings are done right here. Internet also creates a platform for exchanging information about tourist spots, thanks to the rapidly increasing blogging habits of almost anyone who is computer literate. International travellers seem to prefer Eastern countries for visiting a newer places and for novel tourist experience. There has also been a sharp increase in tourists visiting countries like Albania and Bulgaria as the tour packages offer more value for money. “India and China are becoming tourism heavyweights, according to the world Tourism Organisation”. (Information cited above is adapted from the speech delivered by William Maloney CTC, ASTA Executive Vice President & COO, World Travel Market in London, November 7, 2006) (Source www.astanet.com/news/speeches/2006/Bill%20Maloney-WTM2006.doc) Marketing Image and Branding It is generally known that creating a marketing image for a destination makes it unique. It naturally follows that the aim of the destination manager would be to create a component for recall that would make a potential traveller connect to the destination and be persuaded to visit the location. The moment a traveller approaches an agent for planning his tour, there are many brands at his disposal to choose from. As a destination manager, you need to create the brand image of Goa in a manner that the traveller sits up and takes notice. The more effective the brand, the more chances of the traveller opting for it. For the traveller to make Goa his option, its image should be at the same time impeccable, attractive, something different from what is usually offered and suffused with colour, culture and a tourist friendly identity of the country/region. (Ervell E Menezes, “Image Makeover for Goa”, The Tribune, December 8, 2002). It is only after the image appeals to the traveller that he considers the other factors like expense, convenience, distance and cuisine. The country as a whole went for a dynamic change of image. Last year the influx of tourists stood at “4.4 million arrivals, driven in large part by the successful repositioning of the destination brand, through the “Incredible India” marketing campaign.” (Source www.apn.btb.com It makes good sense to cash on the heightened interest in India and create an effective image of Goa that would reflect Its beauty through out the year, both in sunshine and rain A culture fusing with and yet different from India The friendly, fun loving image of the people of the state Manor style accommodation for a graceful, luxurious sojourn Putting all these factors together an image can be built showing Goa as a destination with choices of stay in many of its pretty towns like Panaji (capital), Vasco, Ponda, Madgaon, Calangute, Vagator and so on. Visuals of the world famous Calangute beach, the Bom Basilica, temples in Ponda, water sports like Scuba diving and parasailing, can complete the picture of what to expect in Goa. The image is marketed by PR campaigns, advertisements, and national and international promotion schemes, besides relying on favourable reports from people who have been to Goa by word of mouth, Internet blogging and chatting. Besides promoting the idea of opting for Goa the selling of the image must successfully put an end to images that may be false or exaggerated. Most importantly the image must help the traveller may be able to recall instantly the image you have created, at the mention of Goa, choose your destination above every other, and be satisfied with the time and money allotted for the same. Ervell E Menezes, “Image Makeover for Goa”, The Tribune, December 8, 2002) Once the image is created, it naturally follows that, destination managers have the primary duty to protect its identity and emphasise on constantly improved modes of triggering brand acceptance and recall. Product Development With tourism being awarded an industry status here recently, here are the strategies feasible for creating Goa as a sustainable product. Infrastructure: Creation of a new concept of Manor, (as the sprawling bungalows are called in Goa) accommodation, in international standards. It should be well connected for travel and provide avenues for leisure, adventure and water sports activities. This generates employment for the locals and has a three pronged income generating potential. Entrepreneurship is encouraged and business dealing with small-scale local entrepreneurs provides assets for the product at a reasonable pricing and leads to long-term business relationships with meaningful enterprises. (Source: Tourism and Environment: Case Studies of Goa, India and the Maldives By Kalidas Sawkar, Ligia Noronha, Antonio Mascarenhas, O S Chauhan, and Simad Saeed) Luxury: Offering the tourists international standards of catering, boarding and lodging that include special health packages like Ayurvedic (Indian medicine) treatments (for beauty, therapy and relaxation) mud baths and so on. Emphasis on the main tourist attractions should be packaged with the right image and branding and promoted aggressively and intelligently. The emphasis should be on the enviable climate, rich biodiversity, long stretches of world class beaches, package tours and trekking expeditions to scenic spots like “Doodhsagar” (meaning water that looks like milk-water falls) and culture/character of the populace showing unity in diversity. Emphasisng on the normally peaceful political scenario and of the state should also go a long way to encourage tourists. Efforts: To minimise the negative aspects is always the greatest challenge for any destination manager. In Goa it would involve Devising strategies to cope with rising inflation Seek for innovative and practical methods of waste and plastic disposal Plan for cost effective means of transport Interact diplomatically with groups that are an intrinsic part of the product but do not see eye to eye with you Support the local population in movements against pollution Explore existing accommodation for conversion into tourist homes Set targets that are easy to reach – as impossible goals would not translate into real strategies for enhancing the product Create rain water harvesting tanks and plan for prudent use of existing water and power resources Exploring the possibility of solar power generators for more ecofriendly establishments Create volunteer groups to help keep the beaches clean Organize friendly camps for the local community in recreation, health and education – this creates an amazing level of acceptance among the people and automatically generated positive publicity for the product Source: Documentation of the Best practices adopted by the State Governments for the Development of Tourism – Volume II, State Profiles and Tourism Development, Government of India, Ministry of Tourism, November, 2005) Sustainability “Tourism that is economically, sociaoculturally and environmentally sustainable” is termed as Sustainable Tourism. “With sustainable tourism, sociocultural and environmental impacts are neither permanent nor irreversible.” (Source: www.stile.coventry.ac.uk/cbs/staff/BOTM/Glossary.htm) It can be said that “sustainable tourism is a positive approach intended to reduce the tensions and frictions created by the complex interactions between the tourism industry, visitors, the environment and communities which are host to holidaymakers. It is an approach which involves working for the long term viability and quality of both natural and human resources. It is not anti-growth but it acknowledges that there are limits to growth.” (Opening editorial of Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Bill Bramwell and Bernard Lane (1993).that involves Practicing ecotourism “Theoretically ecotourism can be defined as a type of tourism where the environment, local community and visitor all benefit.” (Source [Internet] available from www.piedrablanca.org/ecotourism). It naturally follows that there must be a working partnership between government, NGOs and the local community to practice an optimum level of ecotourism. Prudent use of natural resources Successful tourism has been found to be directly linked to its level of sustainability. It is therefore vital to both develop and maintain a sustainable approach to managing natural resources if the tourism industry is to continue to prosper. (Report of the National Seminar on Sustainable Tourism Development Management, organized by World Tourism Organisation, UNESCAP and Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia, June 2003) Cultural Identity “Goans are very much aware of this unique (cultural) identity; they are proud of it and guard it fiercely” – (Source [Internet] available from www.incredibleindia.com) “As cultural policies are clearly a tool for social integration”, (“Emerging Ideas, Culture, identity and Diversity”, Journal, Forum Barcelona, 2004) , it naturally follows that Goa develops a strong base for promoting culture as a part of its image, while maintaining its unique identity. Income generation The Tourism Master Plan, India (1998-99) outlines strategies for promoting income generation Encourage existing private initiatives through appropriate package of fiscal and taxation measures Build investor friendly environment for private initiative Provide infrastructure facilities for local Ensure that the local community is involved in the benefits of tourism. (Source: “The Role of Targeted Investment in Achieving Tourism Potential – The Experience of Goa” by Dr. Bhaumurthy I, Principal, HOD< Dept of Commerce and Sarath Chandran BP, Department of Economics. (Journal “Chetana”, In-house Publication of Shree Damodar College of Commerce and Economics, Margao, Goa, Volume 4.2, 2004-2005) Communication Developing an excellent means of communication that promotes awareness regarding the destination is imperative for the growth of its popularity. Also installing a constant means of feedback ensures an efficiently running project. (Source – “Tourism in Goa” [Internet] available from http://www.anandproject.org Conclusion The preceding paragraphs indicate that creating an original product that appeals universally to tourists of all ages and nationalities is the main challenge for a destination manager. It leads us to understand that tourism should be balanced and compatible to the cultural, social, economic and geographical parameters within which it exists. Involving local manpower to build and develop the product is a primary tool to promote and popularize the destination. As in all ventures, initial setbacks may occur. Coping with it, involves setting up of regulatory measures that ensure sustainability. Besides this, there should be sufficient initiatives to ensure regular and systematic research to help devise better strategies for marketing and promotion of the destination. To ensure a tourist inflow, that is both regular and substantial, a destination manager needs to synthesize strategies in a cogent, phased and systematic manner, and create an effective product that is sustainable, attractive and economically reachable to every tourist who wishes to visit the destination. ************ References Books 1.Marketing Tourism Destinations: A Strategic Planning Approach (Hardcover) By Ernie Heath) Author), Geoffrey Wall (Author) 2.Tourism Economics, Environment and Development: Analysis and Policy (Hardcover) By Clement A Tadell (Author) 3.Sustainable Financing of Protected Areas: A Global review of challenges and options By Author/Editors Lucy Emerton, Joshua Bishop and Lee Thomas (2006) Articles 1.An Economic Analysis of Economic Analysis of Ecotourism, Case Study: Austrian Alps By Micheal, Simone Tumolo, Sunghan Oh, Szymon Kaczmarek and Washington Samushonga “Emerging Ideas, Culture, identity and Diversity”, Journal, Forum Barcelona, 2004 2.“Culture, Drug Abuse and some Reflections on the Family” by M Charles, E J Masihi, H Y Siddiqui, SV Joga Rao, H D’Lima, U Mehta, G Britto, Publication of United Nations Office of Drug and Crime, January, 1994 3. “Image Makeover for Goa”, Ervell E Menezes, The Tribune, December 8, 2002 .4. Opening Editorial of Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Bill Bramwell and Bernard Lane (1993) 5. Report on the National Seminar on Sustainable Tourism Development Management, organized by World Tourism Organisation, UNESCAP and Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia, June 2003 6. “The Net-Worker” by Xavier, Constantino, Journal, Goan Observer, January 15-21, 2005) 7. “The power of the word-of-mouth message”, by Bhatt, Mahesh, The Financial Express, may 9, 2006 8. “The Role of Targeted Investment in Achieving Tourism Potential – The Experience of Goa” by Dr. Bhaumurthy I, Principal, HOD< Dept of Commerce and Sarath Chandran BP, Department of Economics. (Journal “Chetana”, In-house Publication of Shree Damodar College of Commerce and Economics, Margao, Goa, Volume 4.2, 2004-2005 9..Tourism and Environment: Case Studies of Goa, India and the Maldives By Kalidas Sawkar, Ligia Noronha, Antonio Mascarenhas, O S Chauhan, and Simad Saeed. 1998, Economic development Institute of the World Bank, 38 pages, Stock No 37314 10 World Travel Trends (2003-2004). Forecast Forum: WTM Global Travel Report, London, 10:00-11:00 Monday, 10 November, UNEP Publication GEO 2000 (Global Environment Outlook) Online sources 1. .Asia Market Research Dot Com – When opinions are not enough Website: http://www.asianmarketresearch.com/research-news/ 2. Asia Pacific News Business to Business Travel Websites group. Web site: http://www.apn.btbtravel.com/s/Editorial-Associations.asp?ReportID=174570&_Type=Editorial_Associations&_Title=PATA-And-Visa-International-Report-Total-Tourism-India 3.Euro Monitor International Website – http://www.euromonitor.com/Travel_And_Tourism_in_India 4. Goa Blog Website: http://www.goablog.org/posts/goa-a-cultural-feast-a-goa-shigmo-abstract-by-express-travel-world/ 5.Goa News, news Website by Sandesh Prabhudesai, 22 October, 1999 Website: http://www.goanews.com/22oct99.htm 6. “Incredible India” maintained by the Department of Tourism, Government of India(2004) Website: http://www.incedibleindia.org/newsite/atithidevobhava.htm 7.Student Work Zone.com Website: http://www.studentworkzone.com/question.php?ID=42 8. Sustainability in Tourism By Shirley Eber, Sustainability in Education, London Metropolitan University, Business and Service Sector Management, Tourism Concern. Website: http://www.tourismconcern.org.uk 9.Website: www.damodarcollege.org 10.“Travel Daily News” - A daily Travel and Tourism Newsletter for the International Travel Trade Market since 1999 [Internet]. Website: http://www.traveldailynews.com/new.asp?newid=35987&subcategory_id=95 11. Website: http://www.goatourism.org 12. Website http://goatravelguide.com/goa-culture/carnival.html 13. Website: http://www.piedrablanca.org/ecotourism 14: Website: http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/pl50ndc/goa.doc 15. Website: http://www.tourismindia.com 16. Web definitions website: http://www.thequalityportal.com/glossary/s.htm) 17. Website– http://www.indiasite.com/goa/wildlife.html 18. Website– http://www.answers.com/topic/national-parks-of-india 19. Website - http://www.indialine.com/travel/goa/lakes-springs-waterfalls.html 20. Website “Neoncarrot” available from http://www.neoncarrot.co.uk/h_aboutindia/india_tourism_stats.html 21. Website: http://www.mangroveindia.org/resour1.php?query=SONNERATIA%20ALBA&p=MAN 22 The Tourism Industry of Goa current Status and Future Potential”, by Dr. Dayanand MS, Senior Lecturer, Department of Management Studies, Goa University, Website: http://www.internationalcentregoa.com/Paper%20by%20Dayanand%20M%20S.pdf Read More