Goa, India’s smallest state, wishes to make tourists aware that the off-season can be as interesting as the season between late September and March. The monsoon season can be a particular draw.
Goa is very much different from the rest of India, almost like a European-based pocket on Indian soil. Admittedly, British influence is evident all over India, yet the most striking European influence and Latin culture is to be enjoyed in Goa.
450 years of Portuguese rule and the introduction of a Latin way of life have left their mark on India’s smallest state. The capital, Panaji, is home to a host of fascinating places of worship whereas the biggest city, Vasco da Gama, offers a real mix of European and Asian culture.
The problem for Goan tourism is not attracting tourists to such urban areas or even to the stretches of stunning beaches, yet attracting them all year around. The coastline is lit up and booming during the tourist season, yet turns to darkness between March and September. Few tourists are aware of the attraction of the monsoon season during this period and how Goa can be enjoyed for this experience.
The huts on the beaches may be gone and the amount of people may have been seriously reduced yet the raindrops bring a different kind of charm, turning the state emerald green and making the Arabian Sea even more stunning than usual. 2.64 million tourists came to Goa last year, yet only 10% of these came during the off-season. A bit more raindrop tourism could go a long way to getting more people to visit Goa.
