Diu eyes a new identity: Goa minus casinos, nightlife
Keen to move beyond its reputation as a weekend escape for drinkers from dry Gujarat, the administration is exploring a dramatic shift: a plan to lease out the 16th-century Portuguese-built Diu Fort for destination weddings and rebranding the beach town as a family-friendly retreat.
“Diu will soon be Goa minus the casino and nightlife,” Diu collector Rahul Dev Boora told ET. “Both Diu and Goa share a Portuguese legacy, but for tourists seeking a family getaway, Diu will always have the edge.”
He said the administration is developing two promenades, a ropeway and new roads to enhance the appeal of this 40 sq km tiny coastal enclave, part of the Union Territory of Daman and Diu.
“We are planning to rent out Fort Diu for weddings and big events. With Taj (Hotels) set to manage three government properties as upscale hotels – including our Circuit House, which is already operational under its Ginger brand – Diu will soon have ample luxury accommodations to cater to its high-end tourists,” he said.
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A curious trend, however, defines Diu’s tourism – more domestic visitors come for the day than those who stay the night. Official figures available with the district administration reveal that in 2024, the beach town welcomed 379,000 domestic tourists and 1,392 foreign visitors. Yet, an additional 402,000 domestic tourists arrived only to leave by sundown, a pattern largely driven by drinkers from dry Gujarat flocking to its shores.
Now, the administration wants to rewrite that narrative, nudging Diu toward