Sand sculpture fest in Goa to focus on global warming

Goa, a popular beach tourism destination battling the effects of climate change, will host a sand art festival with global warming as its central theme, a tourism department official here said Monday. With sand erosion rampant and the rise in the sea water level threatening 10 percent of Goa's 105-km coastal stretch, the official said the three-day Goa sand art festival, starting Dec 18, would help in dissemination of information about the global warming phenomenon.


"Candolim has borne the twin brunt of global warming and the River Princess. Another reason why we decided on this beach was because the quality of sand there is conducive to sand sculptures," Monteiro said, adding that the festival would be a regular feature on the state's tourism itinerary henceforth.

"It will be a much bigger event next year. It will further encourage people to come to Goa's beaches," Monteiro said. Goa annually attracts approximately two million tourists, of whom 450,000 are foreigners.