Goa’s Move to Attract Adventure Tourists – India Report

Skift Take

Goa is using adventure tourism to diversify its image – it is known for beaches, nightlife, and parties. Boosting the local economy and extending the tourist season also fits in with its regenerative tourism vision.

Bulbul Dhawan

Goa’s Department of Tourism has launched a slew of adventure tourism activities, such as paramotoring and shooting range experiences along with white water rafting, bungee jumping, and scuba diving. This, it said, is meant to cater to the growing demand for unique experiences among travelers. 

“The demand for adventure tourism among inbound tourists in Goa is steadily increasing, reflecting a global trend for active and immersive experiences,” the Goa Tourism Department told Skift. 

Goa-based sightseeing travel agency OneBoard App’s CEO Ryan Prazeres estimates that about 80% of the 10 million annual tourists in Goa engage in some form of adventure activity during their stay. “I believe these activities will attract many tourists who might not have initially considered Goa as their vacation destination,” he added. 

The Goa Tourism Department is hoping to attract a consistent flow of visitors throughout the year. “This rise in adventure offerings is having a positive impact on inbound tourism by attracting new demographics and extending the tourist season, creating a consistent flow of visitors year-round,” it said. 

According to the department, adventure tourism is crucial to diversifying the state’s tourism sector and boosting the local economy. 

Prazeres agreed: “The emergence of new providers will create healthy competition, leading to improved quality and customer service across the board.” He added that local tourism stakeholders such as accommodation providers, restaurants, cafes, and taxi services, will also benefit from the increase in tourist inflow. 

Goa is working to diversify its tourism offerings and moving past its current image around beaches, nightlife, and parties, the state’s Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte had earlier told Skift. That is the reason it is also looking to attract digital nomads by creating the ideal environment for remote work.

Air India, Singapore Airlines Expand Codeshare Agreement

Air India and Singapore Airlines are expanding their codeshare agreement to 51 new destinations. These include 11 cities in India and 40 international destinations, Singapore Airlines said in a statement. 

Later this week, the two airlines will commence codeshare arrangement on each other’s flights between Singapore and India’s Bengaluru and Chennai cities. With this, the total weekly scheduled codeshare flights between the two countries will increase from 14 to 56. 

Singapore Airlines will also codeshare on Air India’s domestic flights on several routes, including to 11 new destinations. Air India’s international flights from Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai to 12 international destinations across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa will also be under the codeshare agreement. Meanwhile, Air India will codeshare on flights to 29 destinations across the Singapore Airlines network. 

The airlines are planning to further expand their codeshare agreement subsequently. 

How DigiYatra Is Transforming India’s Travel Experience

At Indian airports, passengers are required to queue outside the terminal gate for document verification. DigiYatra, India’s airport entry system, eliminates this hassle by using facial recognition to verify your identity at the gate without the need to pull out an ID or boarding pass. 

In an interview with my colleague Peden Doma Bhutia, DigiYatra Foundation CEO Suresh Khadakbhavi has discussed the project’s origins, ambitions, and what it would mean for the future of air travel. Last month, DigiYatra was launched at 9 airports, taking the total to 24 Indian airports, with plans for further expansion.

DigiYatra is currently focused on domestic travel, but has long-term plans to expand internationally. “We’re working on integrating e-passport-based enrollment, which will allow passengers to use the system for international flights,” he said. However, the implementation for international travel would require working together with international airports and border control authorities. Khadakbhavi said they have been working towards this.

Sentosa Development Corporation Partners With STIC Travel Group

Sentosa Development Corporation, which manages the Sentosa island resort in Singapore, has entered into a partnership with travel services company STIC Travel Group to position Sentosa as a sustainable destination among Indian travelers. The collaboration aims to provide students in India with educational experiences around Sentosa’s sustainable practices and ecosystems. 

The partnership is an extension of STIC’s efforts to bolster education tourism in Singapore. As part of this, an ‘Unchartered Sentosa’ tour will be launched in November to allow Indian students to explore sustainability principles at the island through various activities. 

India’s Travel Plans for Holiday Season

A survey by American Express has found that well over 90% of the surveyed Indians are planning to travel during the October 2024 to January 2025 period. Leisure is the biggest motivator, followed by a desire to explore new places and meeting friends and family. Over 90% of the surveyed travelers are also willing to spend more to ensure a convenient and enjoyable experience.

About 73% of Indian travelers are using travel credit cards and loyalty points to reduce the cost of their travel plans. Apart from this, Indians are also looking at travel as a gift during this holiday season. 

New AI-Powered Travel Insurance Solution

India-based general insurer ICICI Lombard has launched an AI-powered travel insurance solution called TripSecure+. The product aims to make travel insurance more customizable and accessible. 

TripSecure+ offers benefits such as refunds of visa fees in the case of visa rejection, car rental cover, and adventure sports cover. The product also offers coverage for pre-existing diseases. 

Korea Tourism Organization Holds Roadshow in Delhi

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has concluded its 2024 roadshow in Delhi. The roadshow facilitated interactions between players in the Indian travel industry to interact with various destination marketing companies, key Korean brands, and airlines. 

In 2023, Korea had over 120,000 visitors from India. This year by August, more than 119,000 Indians had traveled to Korea. The country hopes to attract 500,000 Indian tourists a year by 2026.