GOA: Info for NRIs and Tourists

WHY SHOULD YOU CHOOSE GOA FOR YOUR VACATION?

Well, simply because Goa is a unique experience!
Goa is a small State in India, on its West coast and is a very popular destination for the international tourist.

Famed for its sunny and sandy beaches, Goa also has a lot else to offer the tourist : it is dotted with huge Churches and Cathedrals ( built by the Portuguese who ruled Goa for 450 years, from the 16th to the 20th centuries ), wonderful Hindu temples with all their splendour, Nature parks with elephants, cascading waterfalls.... and much more, all against this picturesque background of a verdant green.

A visit to Goa is like a visit to all of India, for here you come across domestic tourists by the dozen, hailing from all States of India, right from Assam and Manipur in the North, to Kerala and Tamil Nadu from the South, with every other Indian State inbetween!

So you get to see a panorama of Indian life, just travelling in Goa. All the colourful Indian dresses, worn by dusky Indian beauties, are on show over here.The Indian saree has many different avatars, all of which are visible in Goa, at any given time.

Domestic tourists, bless them, are themselves a great tourist draw for foreigners! You get to hear all the different Indian dialects on the beach, on the street, in the market, everywhere.

And yes, you also get to sample cuisine from all over India, in the various North Indian / South Indian / East Indian / West Indian Restaurants, which have sprung up all over Goa in order to cater to tourists from their State!
What a deal it is, then, that you get an experience of the whole of India, as it were, while visiting just this tiny Indian State!

Goa has the added benefit of being one of the most modernised of Indian States. So you will find good hotels ( in all star and non-star categories ), good roads, (fairly) clean surroundings, modern banking and internet facilities, a good transport system, lots of good shopping, and most importantly, a tourist-friendly people, who speak good English!

Of late, Goa has developed as a centre for Medical Tourism.Many corporate Hospitals, like those of the Apollo chain, have set up base in Goa. For the present, the focus is on Cardio-vascular diseases and Urology, but Speciality Hospitals for other branches of Medicine and Surgery are sprouting up all over Goa.
Goa also has a fair number of Ayurvedic clinics and spas, many of which are conveniently located in or near Hotels.

A related trend which must be mentioned is that Goa has also become the hot spot for picking up quality prescription drugs like Cialis, Viagra, Valium and other drugs of these categories, easily and at very low costs. I find many tourists ending their visit to Goa by packing a few dozen of each before leaving for the airport!

HOW LONG SHOULD YOUR VACATION BE?
Well, that depends upon you.

The average international tourist prefers to spend from two to four weeks here, in order to be able to soak up the sun and sand.

Goa is small enough for you to move all over the State on day sight-seeing tours, coming back to your hotel every night.

Hotels have dance-parties and Beach parties, which are a hit with tourists. Wine flows freely, to the beat of the samba and strings of the guitar.
Most large Hotels have their own Music Bands, who perform almost every evening.A few even have casinos and casino games.

Then there are the 'ethnic' spots, which offer authentic Indian lifestyle experiences, including music and dining.There are some wonderful Museums too.

Goa has a long History and a beautiful Geography, which makes it an irresistable tourist destination, a must-see on the map of the International tourist of today!

WELCOME TO GOA!

My Name : Dr. Jayashree Joshi
E mail : joshi@herbaltradition.com

The Taj Mahal may be in danger of falling off the list of the seven new wonders of the world, but it remains the most enduring image of India and quite surpasses the beaches of Goa and Jaipur palaces.

Most travellers define their India experience as 'incredible'. In a recent survey of departing tourists, 97% mentioned that their experience met or exceeded expectations and highlights were:
* a warm and friendly people
* cultural diversity
* plenty to see and do.

Most visitors to India are at the top end of the economic pyramid, with more than hald spending $ 3000 or more during their saty, including the cost of accomodation and air tickets.

For those not keen on travelling to India, the main reasons were safety and hygiene issues.