Tourist arrivals to cross 6 mn by 2017: Parrikar

Posted on April 10, 2016 by crtgoa9020

“Numbers don’t increase by a sheer announcements.”

 

http://englishnews.thegoan.net/story.php?id=14900

 

Union Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar on Saturday said the annual tourist arrival in the State will cross the 6 million mark before the BJP government completes its term in 2017.

Parrikar was speaking just after inaugurating the renovated Panjim Residency. He said, “When BJP came to power in 2000, the annual tourist arrival was just 12.8 lakh. When we left in 2005, the count had increased to 25 lakh showing an annual growth of 25.6 per cent\”.

He said, “Prior to our first government, the annual growth rate in tourist arrival was just 3 per cent, which is called the Hindu rate of growth. When we came back to power in 2012, we said we would ensure that tourist arrivals would cross 6 million per year”.

Parrikar said the annual tourist arrivals had reached 5.5 million last year and before the State government completes its term in 2017, the annual tourist arrival will cross 6 million mark.

Meanwhile, Panjim Residency got a total make-over as the state government has spent Rs 2 crore on it. It is now a centrally air-conditioned complex and also has a multi-cusine restaurant called “Saib” within its premises.

Chief Minister, Laxmikant Parsekar, who was also present on the occasion, said, “Panjim Residency has finally got a new facelift which is now equivalent to a star category above 3 and can offer good and modern facilities for tourists visiting Goa”.

Other dignitaries including Dilip Parulekar (tourism minister), Nilesh Cabral (chairman GTDC), Nikhil Desai (managing director GTDC), Surendra Furtado (mayor, CCP) were also present on the occasion.

– See more at: http://englishnews.thegoan.net/story.php?id=14900#sthash.kMhxTqHj.dpuf

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Parrikar is clueless like the rest of them….

Posted on April 10, 2016 by crtgoa9020

Parrikar is clueless like the rest of them… he never knew was tourism was ans never will. He thinks its just another business.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Parrikar-pats-GTDC-for-improving-tourist-facilities/articleshow/51760814.cms

 

Union minister for defence Manohar Parrikar complimented Goa tourism development corporation (GTDC) for undertaking works to improve facilities for the tourists visiting Goa.

Inaugurating the new look and swanky Panjim Residency, Parrikar said that the Panjim Residency has always been a landmark in the capital city for any tourist visiting Goa.

“I am happy that the Goa tourism development corporation (GTDC) has undertaken works for upgrading and renovating this building which will attract tourists to stay in the hotel with better facilities and amenities. Tourists, today, want good accommodation facilities and it is good to see that the government through the GTDC is working on improving such facilities.” The project cost was 12 crore.

Chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar said, “Panjim Residency has finally got a new facelift which is now equivalent to a star category above 3 and can offer good and modern facilities for tourists visiting Goa for a holiday”.

Tourism minister Dilip Parulekar said, “The Panjim Residency is one of the many accommodation facilities provided by GTDC for tourists in Goa. The GTDC has successfully carried out this work in the last one year and we are now looking at improving accommodation facilities at other properties namely Colva, Old Goa, Britona and so on.”

GTDC chairman Nilesh Cabral said, “Goa tourism development corporation is committed on augmenting and improving tourism-related infrastructure projects in the state. It is our endeavour, as the SPV for tourism projects, to give top priority to accommodation facilities. Today, Goa, is a 365-day holiday destination and tourists throng the state all through the year. The demand for rooms is very high and as a tourism corporation having tourism properties we can offer some of the best hotel facilities and amenities for tourists.”

While the renovated and upgraded Panjim Residency was launched in November 2015, it was officially inaugurated by Parrikar today. Panjim Residency is a ground-plus six storey building. The GTDC appointed M/s Inside Out to provide consultancy services for the work.
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MOU to ensure tourism stakeholders don’t over charge

Posted on April 10, 2016 by crtgoa9020

esma1

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ESMA imposed on Taxi strike

Posted on April 10, 2016 by crtgoa9020

The government has no right to impose ESMA after having failed to meet the taxi drivers just demands. What happened to democracy?

http://www.epaperoheraldo.in/Details.aspx?id=19880&boxid=151366&uid=&dat=4/10/2016

 

esma

Posted in Federation of Associations of Tourist Taxi Owners and Drivers - FATTOD Goa | Leave a comment

Yet another stunt in the name of tourism

Posted on April 9, 2016 by crtgoa9020

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Motorized-paragliding-at-Ashvem-soon/articleshow/51751475.cms

 

Motorized paragliding at Ashvem soon

The Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) is set to introduce more tourism-related services in the next few days. Listed on its agenda is motorized paragliding that will be launched shortly at Ashvem beach, North Goa. Amphibious bus services for which a soft launch was conducted some months ago and the GTDC was awaiting approval from the transport department. In addition, the recently-renovated Panaji Residency will be formally commissioned on Saturday.

GTDC chairman Nilesh Cabral said that motorized paragliding is slightly different from regular paragliding. In the motorized version, the landing is regulated as against regular paragliding where landing depends on wind velocity.

To begin with, the service will be provided at 3,000 for 10 minutes. Operators will have four powered paragliders. .

“It took almost three years for the service provider to get all permissions,” said Cabral.

To be on the safe side, the GTDC has also written to the village panchayat informing it about the launch of the service. GTDC faced quite a lot trouble when it launched the hot air balloon and helicopter services. Both services had to then be shifted to South Goa because of opposition by locals.

 GTDC will also kick-start the amphibious bus services in the next few days at the Santa Monica jetty, he said. Initially, the service will be limited to a few areas, in and around Panaji. GTDC intends to give tourists a glimpse of the hinterlands at a later stage.

 

Goa Tourism’s sea plane service which was stuck for want of certain permissions, is also set to be launched in the next few days. The Captain of Ports (CoP) has earmarked a spot for landing of sea planes in River Mandovi, , and regular trips would be conducted once it has been certified, said Cabral.

 

Panaji Residency, which has been refurbished to compete with starred hotels in the capital city, will be commissioned today at the hands of defence minister Manohar Parrikar.

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The government fails to listen to the the voice of the people on the ground.

Posted on April 9, 2016 by crtgoa9020

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Tourist-taxis-in-Goa-to-go-off-road-on-April-11/articleshow/51754337.cms

Tourists in Goa may face a difficult time on April 11 as all the 15,000-odd taxi operators in the state have decided to keep their vehicles off the road demanding a ban on rent-a-car and related businesses.

All Goa Tourist Taxi Owners’ Association and South Goa Tourist Taxi Owners’ Association is spearheading the strike demanding a ban on rent-a-car and rent-a-bike businesses claiming it has severely affected their business.

“The taxi owners are forced to act this way because the state government has miserably failed to look into our demands. The government has left us with no other option than to show the strength on the streets. Not a single taxi will ply on Monday (April 11),” Vinayak Nanoskar, General Secretary, All Goa Taxi Owners’ Association said.

“This is required to make government understand our importance in the tourism trade,” he added.

There are in all 15,000 taxi operators who are affiliated to both these organisations.

“No taxi will be available at the airport, railway station or hotels. Even all the taxi stands across the state will be closed. We have also appealed passenger rickshaws to join us and they have agreed. It’s a do or die situation for us,” Nanoskar said.

The association said due to the strike taxi counters at all the star hotels would be closed.

“We regret the inconvenience caused to the tourists but we can’t help,” he added.

Nanoskar warned that if the government does not fulfil their demands, the taxi owners will strike indefinitely crippling the tourism trade.

Over 50 lakh tourists annually visit Goa, known for its scenic beaches. Tourism is a lifeline for several locals in the state. COR NRB DV

Posted in Federation of Associations of Tourist Taxi Owners and Drivers - FATTOD Goa | Leave a comment