3 lakh tourists expected in Goa around New Year

As the countdown for New Year has begun, over three lakh tourists are expected to descend to the state which is witnessing parties every evening on almost all of its beaches.

The flow of tourists, who started arriving since the eve of Christmas, will pick up during last two days of the current calendar year, sources said.

On New Year's eve, the beaches will have all night parties even as local Catholic population will be welcoming the new year through the traditional midnight mass.

"More than three lakh tourists would be in Goa on the New Year eve in addition to the local population of 15 lakhs," a senior tourism department official told PTI.

State Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar said the visitors for Goa would increase from 3.8 million last year to 4.2 million for the entire current tourist season.

Public relation activities and road shows held by the department in recent past are fetching good results on domestic and even international front, he said.

The state is currently hosting two EDM (Electronic, Dance and Music) festivals - Sunburn and Supersonic - which are also adding to the footfalls in the state, a senior tourism department official said.

Security has been stepped up considering the rush being witnessed in the state.

Director General of Police Kishen Kumar held a review meeting last week to issue dos and don'ts for the tourism stakeholders.