“What Goa is witnessing is irresponsible tourism. Corruption has set in at all levels and licences awarded to the highest bidders. Overcrowding is creating is creating infrastructural hazards and, in the final analysis even genuine tourism maybe obliterated.”
“Cabral has cooked yet another under-prepared meal. The language in this post shows another cut and paste job. Spiritual tourism is a serious matter it should not be trusted in the hands of Nilesh Cabral”
http://englishnews.thegoan.net/story.php?id=13718
The central government has granted its sanction to a ₹99 crore spiritual tourism circuit with the order expected to be issued before the end of the month, Chairman of the Goa Tourism Development Corporation Nilesh Cabral has said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Feeling-the-Holi-day-blues-as-air-fares-hit-sky-high-prices/articleshow/51505019.cms
As the extended weekend starting with Holi on Thursday draws closer, air fares to Goa have touched a new high. Tourists landing in Goa from the metros will have to dig very deep into their pockets to buy an air ticket on March 27 and 28 to report to work when the weekend draws to a close.
Flight tickets from Goa to Kolkata are priced at nearly 18,000 for March 27, as compared to around 6,500 during a normal week. Delhi residents will have to shell out a minimum of 15,000 for air fares on the day. The regular Goa to Delhi fare is around 5,0
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Hotels-rake-in-holiday-moolah/articleshow/51505050.cms
Goa’s hoteliers, restaurateurs and tour operators are all set to make a killing in the coming long weekend even as the summer sets in and the inflow of foreign tourists trickles down. With most parts of India taking a break on Thursday and Friday for Holi and Good Friday, lakhs of revellers are all set to make a beeline for Goa’s shores, bringing a sweet ka-ching to cash registers.
Several hotels in the state, especially along the Northern coastal belt, are already running full for the year’s first long weekend, which starts on Thursday and goes on till Sunday. Smart travellers have chosen to apply for three days of leave from March 21 to 23, thereby getting a nine-day holiday.
“We are running on high occupancy for the upcoming weekend. We are almost sold out. We have seen mostly families and young couples coming in for a holiday,” Hyatt Place Goa, general manager, Sanjay Patti said.
The influx of tourists will also keep alive nightclubs such as Titos, Club Cubana and Mambos, which are expected to be packed with domestic tourists. “A long weekend is a big boon for the industry. The only problem is that the infrastructure in not sufficient to handle the tourists. Dug up roads in the Calangute belt is another problem, but I don’t think the tourist will change his mind,” travel and tourism association of Goa (TTAG), vice president, Savio Messias said.
Fuelled by European chartered tourists, Goa’s conventional tourist season starts in October and winds up in March, when the winter chill and the warm sun makes for pleasant weather for travellers from Russia, Britain and Germany.
“There is a very good response for us this weekend. We got bookings a month ago and even at the last moment,” Nilaya Hermitage, general manager, Shyam Haridas said.
Keen to attract tourists, several resorts have organized special events to keep guests entertained, while the beach shacks have lined up fireworks and live performances.
