BY MICHAEL FISHER | NT NETWORK

PANAJI: Despite the recent appalling media hoopla against Russians, it is the surge of Russian visitors who kept Goa tourism bucking the recession trend in 2009, said a senior Goa tourism official.

"On the back of last year’s recession faced by most industries, let us not forget that it is the Russian tourists who kept our hospitality sector vibrant," the tourism director, Mr Swapnil Naik told The Navhind Times.

The Russian visitors, especially in North Goa, were reported to be transforming the area with Russian restaurants, beverage and its food choices. "Tourism is one of the sectors that has bucked the recession trend … further investment is needed in specific areas into boosting tourism to help our economy," he said.

He said there are three categories of tourists -- the southern coastal area of Goa with the most five-star hotels lure high-spending tourists, Candolim, Calangute to Baga stretch lures middle-class tourists and the Arambol stretch which attracts the larger number of tourists are the low-spending visitors.

Although efforts are on to lure Germans, British and Japanese tourists, but what concerns Mr Naik is the increase garbage strewn around the cities and beaches, is also becoming a sore eye and may cause low inflow of tourists. His latest priority is finding ways to keep the cities and beaches clean.

To lure high-spending tourists from Japan, Germany and Britain, the Goa directorate of tourism is discussing with parties on a PPP basis to build a golf course, though the area has been identified, it is too early to be disclosed. Contractors have been appointed to clean the garbage subtracted from the sea on the beaches and panchayats notified to lift it. The garbage is to be segregated and disposed of at composite pits set up at selective areas.

Integrated mechanical machines will be deployed for cleaning and destroying waste. Experts will be involved in cleaning the environment, beaches and cities, "so we thought that contacting them would be the best thing," he said. Talks are on with private parties on a partnership basis for the cleaning, and feedback is pouring in, the tourism director said.