By IANS,
Panaji : livelihood of nearly a third of Goa’s population of 13 lakh is linked to the tourism industry, the state’s Tourism Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar said Tuesday.
In reply to a question during the winter session of the Goa legislative assembly, Halarnkar also said that the state earned $912 million in financial year 2009-10 in the form of foreign exchange from tourism.
“The travel and tourism industry of Goa estimates that nearly one third of the population of the state may be dependant on tourism industry one way or the other,” Halarnkar told the assembly.
The minister, however, admitted that the exact amount of revenue earned by Goa from tourism, both domestic and international, could not be ascertained.
Tourism is a major industry in Goa, which is known for its sunny beaches and idyllic environs. The state attracts nearly 2.5 million tourists annually, which includes half a million foreign visitors.