Panaji: With Goa`s image taking a battering
in the media worldwide, the state tourism department has
decided to take help of a professional web service which puts
together a tailor-made search of news articles according to
the subsriber`s choice.
State tourism director Swapnil Naik told reporters here
that the service costing Rs 2 lakh annually will keep track of
news developments related to Goa tourism worldwide, both
negative and positive.
"We have subscribed to a search engine which tracks news
from all newspaper websites, electronic media in all languages
and translate it into English. We get daily news updates twice
a day related to Goa tourism in any language," Naik said.
He further said the software Night Walker would also
compile reports twice a day.
"Then we will get a full report of what news is going
worldwide about Goa. Whenever anything happens, with the help
of this exercise we are ready to react at any moment. We will
know who is covering Goa and what negative and positive they
are saying about tourism in Goa," Naik said.
Also, this will give state government an opportunity to
react to any adverse publicity in the media, he said.
Goa Tourism Secretary Dr M Modassir also requested
journalists to lend a hand in rebuilding the confidence of
tourists in the state.
"Irrespective of reality, what comes out in the media
also becomes reality," Modassir said.
"We understand to have better interactions with the
media. This is the beginning. Please overcome the shortcomings
and give good feedback," Modassir said.
PTI
