Goa tourism industry has welcomed the central government’s decision to give certain relaxations in the visa norms that would help attract more tourists to the beach destination.
The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) spokesman, Mr Ralph D’Souza, told reporters here that the new norms will help to increase the flow of European tourists in the state.
Goa attracts around four lakh foreigners and the tourism industry had raised fears that the number might drop down due to stringent visa regulations.
Mr 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 the tourism industry,” he said.