News Analysis India

Tag: Goa tourism

  • Goa will be developed as India’s ‘tourism capital’: CM Pramod Sawant

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said his government is developing infrastructure in such a way that the coastal state will emerge as the country’s “tourism capital” going forward and sought investment in the key sector through public-private partnership (PPP) model.

    Speaking at Times Network’s India Economic Conclave 2022 here on the topic “How the States are Driving Aatmanirbhar Agenda?”, he said different aspects of tourism – adventure, medical, cultural and spiritual – are being given a fillip.

    “We are asking people to invest under PPP model, public-private partnership. We have activated our PPP cell for those who want to invest in the tourism sector,” said Sawant, who won a second term in office last month following the BJP’s victory in Assembly polls in the coastal state.

    He said that the government is looking for investment under the PPP framework, especially in bungee jumping and promoting Goa as a preferred destination for weddings.

    Highlighting that Goa, famous for its sandy beaches, shrines, vibrant nightlife and thrilling water activities, is trying to attract high-end international and national travellers, Sawant said the state has already formulated a new tourism policy under which those who want to invest under the PPP model will get ease of doing business and single window clearance.

    “We are developing infrastructure in such a way that Goa will be the tourism capital of the country,” Sawant said, adding after the COVID-19 pandemic, the tiny state will be the safest destination for holiday-makers.

    The chief minister claimed that be it the health, road or tourism infrastructure, they have completed everything in the last eight years. “I feel whatever is required at present for the next 50 years that infrastructure we have already completed in these eight years,” he said, adding Goa annually attracts 15 million tourists.

    The CM said impact of “double engine” development (BJP in power at the Centre and also in the state) was now visible in Goa. He said the state government is keen on “sustainable” iron ore mining, which has been banned following a Supreme Court order a few years ago.

    “Definitely, this time in this (new) tenure (of BJP government) we are starting with mining. We have already formed mining corporations. We have already formulated a mining dump policy in a different way. This time we are starting with sustainable ways,” Sawant said.

    The CM said the issue of land allotment for an IIT (Indian Institute of Technology), which witnessed agitations in the past, has now been resolved. Within three months, land will be given for the proposed IIT in Goa after which work on the project will start.

    “Already we have started the National Science Forensic University under the home ministry in the state of Goa. We are starting an arbitration centre (on the lines of one in Singapore). The first international arbitration centre we are starting in Goa,” Sawant said.

    Sawant claimed Goa is the first state that has provided water connection to every household, has achieved 100 per cent electrification and also acquired the status of being ‘open defecation free’. He said that Goa is also the first state to have a marine cluster and results of its ‘blue economy’ will be visible prominently in the future.

    According to the chief minister, the upcoming international airport at Mopa in Goa will be inaugurated on August 15, 2022, and the new aerodrome will also benefit neighbouring Maharashtra. Sawant said the Goa government is setting up separate electronic manufacturing and IT clusters.

  • Amid Omicron scare ahead of Christmas-New Year season, Goa’s tourism sector adopts ‘wait and watch’ policy

    By PTI

    PANAJI: Ahead of the world-renowned Christmas-New Year celebrations in Goa, the tourism sector in the state is keenly watching the likely impact of a new coronavirus variant that was detected in southern Africa recently and one which the World Health Organisation has christened ‘Omicron’ and labeled a ‘Variant of Concern’, stakeholders said on Sunday.

    They said chartered flights and international services bringing in foreign tourists start arriving by the middle of December, heralding what the sector is expecting to be another fruitful season post a robust one during Diwali as the coastal state became the preferred destination for domestic travelers after the COVID-19 pandemic ebbed.

    “We are waiting and watching. Till now, at least, there is no impact (of Omicron) but we will have to wait and watch all the developments over the next 15 days. If cases go up, then protocols will have to be adhered to even more strictly,” Travel and Tourism Association of Goa president Nilesh Shah told PTI.

    He said lack of precaution has been the primary reason why cases went up in the past, though the country is better equipped to tackle an outbreak now as some 70 per cent of the eligible population has taken at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

    Explaining the situation with chartered flights expected to arrive in the state, Shah said, “The process of issuing visas has started. The severe COVID-19 wave in Russia is cooling off, the cases in UK are coming down. The Union government has allowed international flights from December 15, and many tourists come here on scheduled flights.”

    Putting up a brave front when asked if there was fear of losing the Christmas and New Year season to a resurgent virus variant, Shah said Goa was a safe destination as 100 per cent of the eligible population has received at least one dose of the vaccine.

    “Moreover, we are not afraid as such. We have to learn to do business with the presence COVID-19 around,” Shah asserted.

  • Goa to withdraw most travel curbs from Nov 1

    By Express News Service

    BELAGAVI: The tourism industry Goa which was badly hit owing to Covid-19 and the long-drawn restrictions, is finally all set to welcome tourists with lesser restrictions. The government has planned to withdraw most of the restrictions to revive the tourism sector in the state from November 1.

    According to sources, the Goa government is keen to allow tourists without much hassles. The government is expected to initiate several measures to boost tourism in the state which was badly hampered due to the pandemic for the last one year. As a result of stringent curbs on travel and entry of people from other areas into Goa, it was possible to prevent the spread of virus in Goa effectively. The government also intensified vaccination and Covid testing during the last several months to bring the cases down.

    People entering Goa from various borders from other states will have to produce RT-PCR negative reports or double dose vaccination certificate. A team of officials have been screening the visitors at all the check posts in the border for the past one year. With Goa’s plan to allow outside tourists, the coastal state is expected to witness a huge footfall, particularly from the neighbouring Karnataka and Maharashtra states.