Goa wins four national tourism awards

Times of India | 7 hours ago | 28-09-2022 | 04:59 am

Panaji: Goa tourism has bagged four national awards in various categories. Tourism minister Rohan Khaunte and director of tourism Nikhil Desai received the awards from Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar at a ceremony held in the national capital to celebrate World Tourism Day, on Tuesday.Goa tourism won awards for being the best civic management of a tourist destination in India — Calangute village, category C — and national tourism hall of fame, category union territory: comprehensive development of tourism.The third award is for “the most innovative use of information technology — social media/mobile app website award for developing and successfully operating fully indigenous mobile taxi app GoaMiles in the true spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat”.The state also won the national award for ‘devotion to duty’ with lifeguards of Drishti LifeSaving, Shashikant Jadhav, M Gulablal, Ramesh Gaonkar and Nitesh Chendekar, being selected in this category.Khaunte said Goa Tourism has embarked on a journey to position Goa as a premier destination, both in the country as well globally. “Being awarded with prestigious awards is recognition of hard work, dedication and efforts of the entire team of Goa tourism.”His ministry, Khaunte said, wants comprehensive development of the tourism sector, especially the basic facilities, but with emphasis on sustainability.While committing the government’s efforts to upgrade tourism infrastructure, he said chief minister Pramod Sawant has already announced plans to make Goa the tourism capital of India.In a statement, Khaunte also took the opportunity to compliment the state’s tourism stakeholders for their support and for providing warm hospitality for tourists in the true spirit of ‘atithi devo bhava’. The Goa government has already focussed its attention on promoting hinterland tourism, he said.Union tourism minister G Kishan Reddy, Union minister of state for tourism Ajay Bhatt and secretary tourism, government of India, Arvind Singh were also present for the award ceremony.

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GoaMiles wins state national tourism award

Times of India | 3 hours ago | 28-09-2022 | 08:38 am

Times of India

3 hours ago | 28-09-2022 | 08:38 am

PANAJI: Goa tourism has bagged four national awards in various categories. Tourism minister Rohan Khaunte and director of tourism Nikhil Desai received the awards from Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar at a ceremony held in the national capital to celebrate World Tourism Day, on Tuesday. Goa tourism won awards for being the best civic management of a tourist destination in India - Calangute village, category C - and national tourism hall of fame, category union territory: comprehensive development of tourism. The third award is for "the most innovative use of information technology - social media/mobile app website award for developing and successfully operating fully indigenous mobile taxi app GoaMiles in the true spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat". The state also won the national award for 'devotion to duty' with lifeguards of Drishti LifeSaving, Shashikant Jadhav, M Gulablal, Ramesh Gaonkar and Nitesh Chendekar, being selected in this category. Khaunte said Goa Tourism has embarked on a journey to position Goa as a premier destination, both in the country as well globally. "Being awarded with prestigious awards is recognition of hard work, dedication and efforts of the entire team of Goa tourism." His ministry, Khaunte said, wants comprehensive development of the tourism sector, especially the basic facilities, but with emphasis on sustainability. While committing the government's efforts to upgrade tourism infrastructure, he said chief minister Pramod Sawant has already announced plans to make Goa the tourism capital of India. In a statement, Khaunte also took the opportunity to compliment the state's tourism stakeholders for their support and for providing warm hospitality for tourists in the true spirit of 'atithi devo bhava'. The Goa government has already focussed its attention on promoting hinterland tourism, he said. Union tourism minister G Kishan Reddy, Union minister of state for tourism Ajay Bhatt and secretary tourism, government of India, Arvind Singh were also present for the award ceremony.

Goa: Tourism honchos pitch for new foreign markets

Times of India | 1 day ago | 27-09-2022 | 07:56 am

Times of India

1 day ago | 27-09-2022 | 07:56 am

PANAJI: In the seventies, tourism happened to Goa effortlessly and after European tourists, the Russians made a beeline to the state and by 2012-13 charter tourism was at its peak. However, post-pandemic, the industry faces several challenges as it sets out to explore new markets. The state has not seen a new market in the last few years. But with the tourism policy setting 2030 as the deadline to make Goa a world-class destination, stakeholders said the industry cannot afford to repeat its past mistakes, especially today when travellers' tastes have changed. The present-day traveller is hungry for more, stakeholders said. "The concept of reels has brought to light hidden places. Tourism is not just about staying in a room, it is an experience of events. There has to be out-of-the-box thinking to discover markets," chairman of the Kudchadkar group Nandan Kudchadkar said. It's not that Goa tourism is not aware that attracting a new market is not just difficult, but is also like being in a race with several competitors. "Promotion and marketing of the destination cannot be done in the same fashion as in the past. We need to showcase our products- culture, cuisine, hinterlands, along with sun and sea- at road shows and trade fairs," tourism minister Rohan Khaunte said. The legacy, Khaunte said, has kept Goa dependent on two markets - Russia and the UK - and it has failed to penetrate a new market in recent years. As the international season is set to begin next month, e-visa issues linked to core markets are yet to be sorted out and tour operators want it to be handled on a war footing lest they lose another season. A tour operator said the state would do well to ponder on why it has failed to find a new market in the last one decade despite Goa tourism never ceasing to participate in international trade fairs. "I'm not talking about charter tourists alone, but of free independent travellers (FITs). Since Goa tourism has a target to achieve, it cannot afford a hit and miss approach," he said. The tourism minister said Goa will be on a good footing if it's able to draw the attention of even 10 of the 150 countries. "We see a huge potential in western Europe besides South Korea and the US. We have started moving in the right directions to tap those markets," Khaunte said. Ernest Dias, chief operating officer at Sita, said besides Europe, Goa should also focus on Asia. "Though a huge number of Americans visit India, I do not see Goa's beaches holding any attraction for them," Dias said. Before the pandemic, Goa would receive around eight to nine lakh foreign tourists annually with around two to two-and-a-half lakh charter arrivals. Its real test begins now even as the starred hotels are no more dependent on international arrivals. Vice president of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa, Jack Sukija said brand Goa is still strong in European countries and it should capitalise on it. "If we maintain the pristine beauty of the state and 'sussegado' way of life, travellers from European countries will visit Goa once their economies stabilise. Goa is already the country's favoured destination and we have to build on it." President of Goa Chamber of Commerce Ralph de Souza said an attempt has to be made to revive old markets even as new markets are explored.

From October, Calangute p’yat to also collect garbage at night

Times of India | 1 day ago | 27-09-2022 | 04:51 am

Times of India

1 day ago | 27-09-2022 | 04:51 am

Calangute: The Calangute panchayat has decided to collect garbage at night from October. The decision comes following suggestions from tourism minister Rohan Khaunte and other stakeholders at the recent International Beach Clean-up Day last Saturday.During the clean-up drive, resort owners, staff and other stakeholders said that garbage is only being collected during the day. But, with a large number of tourists visiting the coastal village during the night, garbage gets littered on the beach and roads during this time, which then becomes a sore sight for their guests and tourists visiting or walking around during the early morning hours. Garbage clearing workers start work only at 8am. “The trucks will also collect garbage late evening and from 6.30am onwards so that the roads are clean early morning,” Calangute sarpanch Joseph Sequeira said. Stakeholders also pointed out that the workers simply sweep the garbage from the roads into the nearest drains. Sequeira assured them that the workers will be trained to make them more effective.

‘Improve sambar population to raise tiger numbers’

Times of India | 2 days ago | 26-09-2022 | 08:53 am

Times of India

2 days ago | 26-09-2022 | 08:53 am

PANAJI: Goa should focus on conserving and improving the population of sambar deer in its protected areas to help tiger conservation in the state. Sambar is the ideal prey for tigers, as it provides sufficient supply of meat for days and will allow tigers to stay and breed in Goa, said A J T Johnsingh, Padma Shri awardee, conservationist, and former dean of the Wildlife Institute of India. While subsequent ministers have often said that there are no ‘resident’ tigers in Goa and these big cats keep shifting base to the forests across the border, Johnsingh said proactive measures are required to get tigers to breed inside Goa’s protected areas. “Barking deer, spotted deer may not contribute to tiger conservation and gaurs tend to attack tigers. Sambar, once hunted, can be consumed for days. First, a detailed survey of the sambar population is required in Goa. There are sambars, but some years ago as many as 20 were poached. Sambar conservation in Goa is tiger conservation,” Johnsingh told TOI. He said the argument that a tiger reserve is not needed in Goa does not stand because though the state has almost 700sqkm of protected area, these have many human settlements within. “At least 150sqkm of core area is required with no human population. Any existing settlements should be rehabilitated. Simultaneously, efforts should be made to improve sambar population in the entire 700 sq km. And Goa will see results in five years’ time. Having a tiger reserve will earn Goa funds from the Centre for support staff, a good field director and vehicles to improve its protected areas,” said Johnsingh, who has helped shape the Wildlife Institute of India over his two-decade-long stint there. An interim cattle compensation policy is also vital for tiger conservation, Johnsingh said. “In Corbett, in the buffer area, more than 10,000 cattle have been killed over the years. But there is not a single report of tiger poisoning. This is because if Rs 20,000 is provided as cattle compensation to locals, Rs 5,000 of it is provided immediately as interim relief. Some wealthy persons from Goa should come forward to help with funds for such immediate relief in the interest of tiger conservation,” he said. Goa also needs more courageous forest officials, Johnsingh said. “We need forest officials who have courage to tell ministers what exactly is needed for Goa,” he said. Johnsingh also said Goa is not suitable for tiger safari focused tourism because of its terrain and other factors. “In Goa, one should focus on nature tourism, like birdwatching, reptile watching, amphibian watching, rather than tiger tourism,” he explained.

GFP questions jetty policy, calls it backdoor entry for offshore casinos

Times of India | 2 days ago | 26-09-2022 | 04:47 am

Times of India

2 days ago | 26-09-2022 | 04:47 am

Panaji: GFP on Sunday questioned if locals stand to benefit from the tourism department’s jetty policy. Party president Vijai Sardesai also asked if the state government would share revenue with the village panchayats.While agreeing that river transportation could ease traffic congestion, Sardesai made it clear that he saw the jetty policy as a step towards the introduction of offshore casinos in other parts of Goa.“I feel some issues remain ambiguous,” he said. “Once a cruise terminal comes into existence, how long will it take for offshore casinos to mushroom in other rivers across Goa?”To back his suspicions, Sardesai asked the government if it has data on the number of Goans employed in the local cruise sector. He also pointed out that the government has not shown a preference for locals while issuing licences for cruise boats and jetty operations or for jobs created by the sector.Sardesai said his party welcomes the importance being given to river transportation, which is in line with eminent architect Charles Correa’s vision. He said that if the state government is serious about water transportation and cruise tourism, it should promote Mormugao Port as a cruise ship terminal instead of a coal terminal.

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