The Dubai Miracle Garden, renowned for its breathtaking floral displays and record-breaking installations, has announced that its Season 13 will conclude on June 15. This spectacular garden, spread over 72,000 square meters, boasts an astonishing 150 million flowers in 120 different varieties, making it a must-visit destination for nature lovers and tourists alike ¹.
Iconic Attractions: The garden features an array of iconic attractions, including a Guinness World Record-holding replica of the Emirates A380 aircraft adorned with 500,000 fresh flowers and live plants.
Themed Displays: Visitors can explore themed displays inspired by popular events and characters, such as the Smurfs Village, complete with life-sized mushroom houses and playful activities.
Floral Masterpieces: The garden showcases intricate floral designs, including castles, characters, and a miniature golf course, all blending art, nature, and technology ² ³.
Ticket Information
Entry Fees: UAE residents can enjoy discounted entry fees of AED 60 by presenting their Emirates ID, while non-residents pay AED 100 for adults and AED 85 for children.
Free Entry: Children under three years old can enter the garden for free ⁴ ³.
Sustainability Efforts The Dubai Miracle Garden is committed to sustainability, implementing eco-friendly initiatives such as:
Advanced Irrigation Systems: Reducing water consumption to maintain the lush flowers.
Solar-Powered Lighting: Minimizing the garden’s carbon footprint.
Recycling Program: Converting organic waste into compost to nourish the flowers ².
Don’t miss the opportunity to experience the magic of Dubai Miracle Garden before its Season 13 concludes on June 15!
Panaji, 24th April 2025 — The Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, convened the 21st Empowered Committee Meeting on Marketing and Public Relations, under the chairmanship of Honourable Minister for Tourism, Shri Rohan A. Khaunte. The meeting was attended by the Secretary Tourism Shri Sanjeev Ahuja, IAS, Director of Tourism, Shri Kedar Naik, Managing Director of GTDC, Shri Kuldeep Arolkar, TTAG President, Shri Jack Sukhij, COO of travel Corporation of India, Shri Ernest Dias, Bigfoot Museum Founder, Shri Mahendra Alvares, GTB Board Member, Mr. Mark Mendes, representatives from Mopa Airport amongst others.
The committee conducted a thorough review of ongoing and planned marketing initiatives, placing a strong emphasis on maximizing impact, ensuring efficiency, and fostering year-round engagement across diverse tourism segments.
During the meeting, the need to restructure and streamline roadshows and trade shows—both domestic and international—was emphasized to enhance return on investment. It was unanimously agreed that all such engagements must be aligned with clear performance benchmarks and measurable outcomes, ensuring optimal utilization of public resources.
Discussions also centered on two high-potential tourism verticals: MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) and Destination Weddings. The state aims to tap into the growing business travel segment while simultaneously enhancing its positioning as a premier wedding destination, leveraging its scenic beaches, heritage venues, and robust hospitality infrastructure.
A significant step towards transparency and accountability was the presentation of post-audit reviews by agencies responsible for executing previous roadshows and trade shows. These evaluations helped identify outcomes, challenges, and key learnings, which will inform future strategies and execution frameworks.
The Committee further deliberated on the proposed airline incentive scheme, previously introduced in the Goa Legislative Assembly. The scheme, designed to strengthen scheduled and chartered connectivity from emerging international markets, proposes a performance-linked disbursement model based on actual passenger headcount. This approach aims to ensure responsible investment while driving inbound tourism in a targeted and value-driven manner.
The meeting placed special focus on incentivizing emerging markets, especially in light of changing geo-economic dynamics and shifting trends in domestic travel influenced by the political and geographical aspects across India.
As part of its long-term strategy, the Committee introduced “Vision 365”—a roadmap for year-round global market engagement. This initiative is focused on deploying KPI-driven marketing efforts in high-potential international markets, sustaining continuous engagement with trade partners and consumer segments, and ensuring a consistent communication cycle that maintains Goa’s presence across varying travel seasons.
Speaking on the occasion, Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Shri Rohan A. Khaunte, stated, “Goa’s tourism roadmap must be strategic,performance-driven, and future-ready. With targeted investments in connectivity, smarter marketing, and year-round engagement, we are positioning Goa not just as a seasonal getaway but as a global destination with diversified tourism experiences and sustained economic impact.”
President of TTAG, Shri Jack Sukhija stated “The committee meeting has emphasised the need for result-driven planning in Goa tourism’s Marketing and promotion. By emphasising measurable outcomes, stakeholder alignment, and smart incentivisation, we’re building a resilient tourism ecosystem. As industry partners, we look forward to supporting these forward-looking initiatives that aim to streamline the marketing and promotion initiatives.”
COO of travel Corporation of India, Shri Ernest Dias shared his thoughts stating “Last year’s focused international outreach and participation in key global travel fairs have begun to yield measurable results. We’re already witnessing a notable uptick in charter flight operations for this season, indicating renewed confidence among our overseas partners and travelers. With continued strategic engagement, we can further strengthen Goa’s position as a preferred international leisure destination.”
Airport Director, Goa International Airport, Dabolim, Shri George Varughese stated “Our collaborative discussions on the airline incentive model are timely and essential — especially for penetrating emerging markets ,expanding destinations and diversifying inbound traffic. With Goa’s growing international visibility, infrastructure readiness will be key to unlocking its full tourism potential.”
The Department of Tourism reiterated its commitment to evidence-based planning, enhanced stakeholder collaboration, and smart tourism investments that will reinforce Goa’s position on the global tourism map.
The Hajj pilgrimage in 2025 will mark the last summer season for the next 16 years, bringing relief to millions of pilgrims who have faced extreme heat during recent pilgrimages. This change is due to the Islamic lunar calendar, which causes the Hajj dates to shift approximately 10 days earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar.
Starting in 2026, the Hajj will take place in the spring season, followed by winter, and will remain in these cooler seasons until it returns to summer in 2042. This shift is significant, especially considering the extreme heat challenges faced during recent summer pilgrimages.
The 2024 Hajj pilgrimage was particularly harsh, with temperatures soaring above 50°C (122°F) and resulting in over 1,300 deaths. Many of these fatalities were among unauthorized pilgrims who lacked access to proper shelter and amenities.
The shift to cooler seasons is expected to improve the overall experience for pilgrims, reducing the risk of heat-related illnesses and fatalities. This change will also allow for better planning and preparation by Saudi authorities, ensuring a safer and more comfortable pilgrimage for all.
The Hajj pilgrimage in 2025 will be a significant milestone, marking the last summer season for the next 16 years. As the Islamic lunar calendar continues to shift the Hajj dates, pilgrims can look forward to more comfortable and safer pilgrimages in the years to come.
Panaji, April 23, 2025 – The Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), in collaboration with The St. Regis Goa Resort, Mobor, Cavelossim, Salcete, successfully conducted a one-day workshop on hospitality orientation and operations. Designed to offer an immersive experience in a hospitality setting, the workshop provided GTDC officials with valuable insights in hotel operations & customer services .
The workshop was inaugurated in the presence of Shri Satish Kumar, General Manager of the St. Regis Goa Resort, along with GTDC’s General Managers GTDC General Managers including Shri Gavin Dias (Hotels, Marketing); Shri Laxmikant Vaigankar (Administration); Shri Kapil Paiguinkar (Finance); and Shri Sachin Gore (Engineering), Shri Deepak Narvekar, Dy General Manager ( Hotels/ Mktg), Shri Sandeep Gawas, Dy. General Manager (Admin) and other officials of GTDC and St Regis. The initiative focused on enhancing the soft skills, communication abilities, and operational knowledge of the Senior GTDC personnel.
Resource persons from The St. Regis led interactive sessions covering guest service excellence, internal hotel operations, and soft skills training. A dedicated interaction session facilitated the exchange of ideas between the resort’s resource team and GTDC officials. As part of the programme, participants were taken on a guided tour of the resort, exploring key areas such as the lagoons, cocktail mixing station, hotel lobby, beach access from the hotel, and the ‘heart of the hotel’ operations wing and other important sections.
To honour the participants, certificates along with traditional Kunbi shawls, sarees, jackets, and Hotel Gift were presented by Dr. Ganesh Gaonkar, Chairman of GTDC and Shri Satish Kumar, General Manager of the St. Regis Goa Resort.
Dr. Ganesh Gaonkar, Chairman of GTDC, was present at the certificate distribution ceremony. In his address, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity extended to GTDC staff to engage with one of Goa’s premier luxury resorts. He emphasised that the experience and knowledge gained would contribute significantly to enhancing the quality of services offered by GTDC and tourism related services. Dr. Gaonkar also acknowledged the support and cooperation of The St. Regis team in organising the workshop.
Shri Kuldeep Arolkar, Managing Director, GTDC stated, “Workshops like these help our teams learn from the best in the industry and adopt proven practices that enhance our service and operational standards. Through such initiatives, we aim to equip our teams with the skills, mindset, and exposure needed to deliver exceptional experiences across our tourism infrastructure.
Shri Satish Kumar, General Manager of The St. Regis Goa Resort, reaffirmed the resort’s unwavering commitment to partnering with Goa Tourism in elevating the state’s position as a world-class destination. He emphasized the resort’s relentless focus on excellence and its role in setting benchmarks in luxury hospitality. Amidst evolving industry narratives, he proudly highlighted that The St. Regis Goa continues to achieve robust occupancy levels and exceptional guest satisfaction—testament to the trust and loyalty of its discerning guests.
Shri Gavin Dias, General Manager and Shri Deepak Narvekar, Deputy General Manager, also spoke on the occasion. Dorin Mascarenhas, Manager – Human Resources at The St. Regis Goa Resort also extended the help during the workshop.
30 senior officials of GTDC ranging from General Managers to Manager of the Residencies participated in the workshop.
This workshop marks a significant step towards knowledge exchange and skill development in Goa’s tourism and hospitality sector, reflecting a shared commitment to service excellence and professional growth.
In a groundbreaking move, MajesticPride has transformed the outdoor advertising landscape in Goa with the launch of its latest larger-than-life branding installation. Strategically positioned at the arrival exit of Mopa International Airport in Goa, this giant Roulette-inspired structure is set to become a trending landmark symbol, captivating the attention of tourists and locals alike.
This colossal installation is not just a visual spectacle but also a testament to innovative engineering and design. The Roulette-inspired structure is a perfect blend of art, creativity, and precision, making it a must-see attraction in Goa.
With this installation, MajesticPride aims to elevate the outdoor advertising experience in Goa, providing brands with a unique platform to showcase their presence. The structure’s massive size and strategic location ensure maximum visibility, making it an ideal spot for brands looking to make a lasting impression.
The Roulette installation has quickly become a symbol of Goa’s vibrant spirit and creativity. As tourists and locals snap photos in front of this giant structure, it has become a trending landmark, putting Goa on the map as a hub for innovative outdoor advertising.
The installation offers unparalleled brand visibility, with its massive size and prime location ensuring that it captures the attention of every visitor exiting the airport. This is a game-changer for brands looking to make a bold statement in Goa.
A Partnership for Success MajesticPride’s collaboration with Mopa International Airport has resulted in a win-win situation for both parties. While MajesticPride gets to showcase its innovative installation, the airport benefits from the enhanced passenger experience.
With this installation, MajesticPride has redefined the boundaries of outdoor advertising in Goa. The company’s commitment to innovation and creativity has set a new benchmark for the industry, and we can’t wait to see what’s next.
MajesticPride’s giant Roulette installation at Mopa International Airport is a testament to the company’s innovative spirit and commitment to delivering exceptional outdoor advertising experiences. As this trending landmark symbol continues to captivate audiences, it’s clear that MajesticPride is redefining the OOH landscape in Goa.
