Popular carnival set to attract tourists

The Goa Carnival is due to take place from February 9 to 12 with its opening ceremony in Panaji.

The carnival will feature four floating simultaneous parades taking place in Panaji, Vasco, Margao and Mapusa. For the first time, the Panaji carnival will include the food and cultural festival in Caranzalem from February 8 to February 13.

There will be an exciting mix of cuisine, food, culture, fashion shows, entertainment and live music performances throughout the 2013 carnival, in which a fashion show by designer Wendell Rodricks will be one of the highlights. The state tourism board is expecting a huge tourist influx.

Goa's portly mascot will also be seen dancing with the Bollywood actresses and with fashion and music icons such as Neha Dhupia, Sayali Bhagat, Anushka Manchanda, Parikrama, Remo Fernandes and Indian Ocean.

Goa Principle Secretary, Tourism, RK Verma said: "Attracting tourists to Goa is important as tourism contributes 30-35 per cent to state domestic product. We are aiming for at least one million tourists to visit Goa during the forthcoming carnival."