Rural Tourism as a Catalyst for Tourism Growth in Raia
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Date
2026
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ASST.PROF. NOELLA D’COSTA
Abstract
This paper focuses on the rural tourism potential in Raia, a historically and culturally rich village situated in Salcete Taluka, South Goa, near the city of Margao, as a catalyst for tourism development in the region. Raia is known for its agricultural heritage, social ties, and religious importance, especially the Konsachem Fest held every year at the historic Our Lady of Snows Church, making it a promising destination for sustainable and community-based tourism development. The paper sought to evaluate the effect of tourism on the community and explore the role of natural, cultural, and community based factors in shaping the potential for rural tourism. The research design was quantitative, employing structured questionnaires to 250 ancestral members of the community, both online and offline.The results show that a significant number of residents have a positive attitude towards tourism, appreciating its potential to provide additional income for the household through homestays, handicrafts, local food production, and small businesses, as well as their willingness to share local traditions, festivals, and cultural practices with tourists. However, the respondents also expressed concerns about the generation of waste, traffic congestion, environmental degradation, the preservation of religious sanctity, and the potential negative impacts on the younger generation, which are important in the planning and development of rural tourism in Raia