Panaji: More than 400 years after saint Francis Xavier spread Christianity in Goa after sailing from present day Spain, the Goa Tourism is keen to promote tourism with Madrid.

Tourism officials spoke of initiating ties with the Spanish state of Navarra, the birthplace of the saint, in a bid to promote cross-regional tourism.

"The Spanish counterparts have also shown keen interest in Goa due to its emotional ties with the state," Swapnil Naik, Goa's tourism director, told reporters.