the exposition of the sacred relics of st francis xavier will commence on saturday with the state hoping it will help to improve the condition of its coffers while the ripple effect of a large number of tourists and pilgrims thronging old goa is expected to be felt across the state the solemn occasion is also expected to add to the value of brand goa as a shining example of communal harmony and religious tolerance the tourism department is expecting around 50 lakh people to visit goa during the exposition and to carry out developmental works for the event the government has earmarked 10crore this expenditure on infrastructure has its own multiplier effect said sources alluding to contractors and others laid low by the 24monthlong mining ban getting jobs again the ban recently lifted has also put the governments finances under severe strain even if only 40 lakh people turn up and spend an average of rs10000 per head the economic activity will be something like 4000crore estimated nitin kunkolienkar former chairman of goa chamber of commerce and industry gcci expecting the exposition to give a big boost to pilgrimage tourism ralph de souza spokesperson travel and tourism association of goa ttag said goa will defintely be able to get the benefits of the spinoff of the expositon gcci director general ramakant kamat pointed out that the jesuit saint is venerated not only by catholics but by members of other faiths as well and there will definitely be a good spinoff on goas economy especially retail hotels and restaurants right from the small vendors selling mementos handicrafts and sweets to big restaurants hotels transport providers travel agents all are expected to benefit from the massive footfall then there will be the economic benefits from the sale of religious literature and religious items like candles printing and stationery is also expected to reap benefits industrialist atul pai kane terming the event religious tourism said he knows of people coming to goa from canada and the united states just for the exposition the number of people who will be visiting goa is just great and they will be spending locally the government will earn in taxes local hotels taxis shops and vendors will get business also the government has created some infrastructure for the exposition and this will also contribute to the economy said kane the latter point explained sources alludes to the contractors of earthmoving machinery for whom work has been bleak since the mining ban theres work around now thanks to the road expansions electrical works etc said sources former chairman of gcci manguirish pai raikar agreed with kanes views all hotels will get good business and when people come they spend money a lot of economic activity will happen in the state the local transport industry and even guesthouses will benefit he further opined that when people come they also look around for places to buy and therefore even the real estate sector could benefit ttag president francisco braganza