At the World Travel Mart (WTM), to be held in London from November 5 to 7, 2024, Goa will once again be sold as a destination of sun, sand and sea. Around 30 years ago, that may have been easy to do, but now, not so.
The travel mart opened the tourism market considerably, just as Goa slowly started opening itself, but somewhere down the line we forgot to zip up properly and, for many in the trade, the need to walk back to move forward appears cumbersome.
The WTM in London, in the old days, was the biggest party, where people from all over the world descended to meet, discuss and decide whilst having fun.
It was a market where no lies were told, no photographs were morphed and human relations were sold on an, as is where is basis, and it was also the time when Goa was the cynosure of all eyes.
Travel operators from Goa and officials from the Tourism Department began preparations for the WTM months in advance because WTM was, and is, the point from where one draws the path of the industry forward.
It was a market where no lies were told, no photographs were morphed and human relations were sold on an, as is where is basis, and it was also the time when Goa was the cynosure of all eyes.
Travel agencies in Goa were represented by Goan managers or executives who, whenever possible, threw in the essence of being Goan, and that was what singled us out from the rest.
The WTM is one of the best places to know about a country in the tourism basket or a country trying to jump into it. It is one of the best places to know the different cultures and the place to get a taste of different countries.
There would be stalls displaying different aspects of Goa, there were books telling stories about Goa, and there were pamphlets that told you the history of the place. And, these were some of the things that singled out Goa from the rest.
If business was discussed during the day, fables were shared during the evening, with each night ending up heavier than the other and each morning starting with expectations of more business.
There would be stalls displaying different aspects of Goa, there were books telling stories about Goa, and there were pamphlets that told you the history of the place. And, these were some of the things that singled out Goa from the rest.
Goa's famed showman, Francisco Martins (Fanquito) had a hand in designing the first Goa pavilion at WTM and the hype it created still echoes. There were folk dances, musicians who belted Portuguese songs and cooks who travelled along with local spices.
The Goan pavilion, in those days, was not just about selling Goa, but getting tourists interested in coming to India and thereon discovering Goa. A lot has changed since.
Goa is well-known now, and hence, the work cut out for the Goa team; at the 2024 WTM, they will have to step out of the box to draw people for whom Goa is a novelty.
The Germans have come and gone and so have the English, Scandinavian, Russians and Italians. Most still do return, but the emphasis is now on countries like Poland and Russia.
The Pandemic made things difficult for those in the industry, and now, the wars aren’t making things easier. Both have left many with a financial limp and that is one reason why taking a holiday decision is tough.
The Pandemic made things difficult for those in the industry, and now, the wars aren’t making things easier. Both have left many with a financial limp and that is one reason why taking a holiday decision is tough.
Goa will, once again, be represented at the WTM, and some old warhorses will, in all probability, continue to carry the Goa baton and they would not do badly.
The Russians have started coming, the Polish are expected to come in a few weeks and the Europeans are expected thereafter.
As WTM starts in London, the tourism party will have kicked off in Goa and hopefully, the positivity will be flown over to London. For, the good times always begin here.