Press Release Summary = Despite being the smallest state in terms of size - and the fourth smallest in terms of population - Goa is the most popular destination for tourists heading to India, accounting for 12 per cent of the country\'s tourists each year. The area is hugely popular, both with visitors from abroad and with other Indians.
Press Release Body = Despite being the smallest state in terms of size - and the fourth smallest in terms of population - Goa is the most popular destination for tourists heading to India, accounting for 12 per cent of the country\'s tourists each year. The area is hugely popular, both with visitors from abroad and with other Indians.
According to the Goan tourist office, the area received over two million visitors in 2004, nearly a quarter of whom were from abroad. Western tourists are drawn to the area in part because of the strong European influences that are present there. Goa was a Portuguese colony from the 16 th century until 1961. One legacy of this period is the sizeable Christian population, with 35 per cent of the population being Catholic.
The European influence is also reflected in other areas of life, such as cuisine. Unusually for India, restaurants serve beef and pork alongside the usual offerings of fish and chicken. Most also serve alcohol, such as beer and wine, which is an important factor in attracting and retaining the custom of western tourists.
Investors looking for a buy-to-let acquisition will be pleased to hear that Goa is a \"cheap\" place to buy property. A large apartment with two rooms can be acquired for around £5,500, according to Les Calvert of Property-abroad.com. \"It\'s a cheap holiday destination and it\'s getting cheaper all the time . That\'s mainly the interest for investors,\" he said.
He also mentioned that recently enacted laws allowing foreign investors to become involved with property purchases and building projects without a local partner are \"sure\" to have an effect. Mr Calvert predicts a rise in the number of investors moving into the market to take advantage of these new regulations.
There are two main tourist seasons in Goa. During the European winter months, foreign visitors travel to the region to enjoy an exotic holiday. In the summer, there is an influx of more local tourists, who like to visit Goa during the rainy season. Of course, no description of Goa would be complete without a mention of the famous beach parties too. These are a huge pull for the tourist industry.
Originating in the 1960s, the beach parties were based around hippy celebrations of full moon festivals. Over the years, they became synonymous with a type of music developed in the region called Goan trance, dance music that combined local influences with western electronic music. Visitors from all over the world now flock to Goa for the full moon beach parties, which attract people from as far afield as Israel and Brazil.
2025
