Yet another voice of discontentment on the Tourism Master plan.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Master-plan-does-not-address-our-concerns/articleshow/54434349.cms
Perturbed that the draft tourism master plan (TMP) is focused more on North Goa, hoteliers of South Goa have written to Goa tourism development corporation (GTDC) pointing out that the proposed greenfield airport will have a detrimental effect on tourism and other related business’ of central and South Goa.
Representatives of South Goa hotels had made their displeasure clear to master planner KPMG T & L when they were invited to discuss the draft master plan last week.
Hoteliers of the area want that the entire state be taken into consideration for development, making best use of the existing high quality infrastructure in terms of hotels rooms available in the south along with its serene beaches.
In the letter addressed to GTDC chairman, signed by representative of 15 of the top starred hotels of South Goa, they said that the draft TMP does not address their concerns. There are already many commercial establishments in South Goa and setting up entirely new infrastructure will adversely affect Goa’s economy the letter further stated.
“There is no specific plan to address the adverse economic impact hotels, restaurants and commercial establishments in Goa will suffer as a result of the proposed new airport at Mopa,” the letter stated.
They have demanded that Mopa airport not be made operational till all roads connecting it to Southern-most parts of Goa are made fully functional, and that the government keep its assurance and not shut down operations at the Dabolim airportonce the Mopa airport becomes operational.
The letter also points out that affluent foreign tourists are no longer visiting Goa as garbage is to be found everywhere in the state, including beaches. Destinations like Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bali and Vietnam are attracting high spending tourists instead.
Further, the letter stated that the draft TMP has failed to come out with any policies to involve all departments of the government. While they appreciated that the draft TMP stressed on hinterland tourism, the letter said it should not be affected by resumed mining activities. As investment in any tourism project entails huge risk for any private investor, they demanded that the government ensure investors that myopic policies and poor implementations of these would not form part of these risks. Perturbed that the draft tourism master plan (TMP) is focused more on North Goa, hoteliers of South Goa have written to Goa tourism development corporation (GTDC) pointing out that the proposed greenfield airport will have a detrimental effect on tourism and other related business’ of central and South Goa.
Representatives of South Goa hotels had made their displeasure clear to master planner KPMG T & L when they were invited to discuss the draft master plan last week.
Hoteliers of the area want that the entire state be taken into consideration for development, making best use of the existing high quality infrastructure in terms of hotels rooms available in the south along with its serene beaches.
