“The Deputy CM is asking us to trust the government after blatantly cheating the people. now they are creating more layers of bureaucracy to further slowen the process of Tiracol . Tiracol irrevocably belongs to the people of Tiracol. The government should stop being the real estate agent for leading hotels.”
http://www.epaperoheraldo.in/Details.aspx?id=19324&boxid=143227320&uid&dat=3%2F14%2F2016
“It is not surprising that the GCZMA is dragging its feet. It has always been the hand-maid of industry. Its slowness to react is to keep the space on the beaches open for the big players. After all the GCZMA is always at hand to haress shack owners and coastal dwellers at the drop of a hat.”
http://englishnews.thegoan.net/story.php?id=12361
Study on beach carrying capacity
Asserting that the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) continues to remain under obligation to carry out the study to assess the carrying capacity of different beaches in Goa for providing shacks and other temporary structures, the National Green Tribunal has directed the GCZMA Chairperson to place before the Tribunal the complete schedule of the carrying capacity study of the coastal beaches in Goa in a time bound manner.
The Tribunal has warned that failure to do so will incur consequences under Order XXI Rule 32 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
The Tribunal observed, “little has been done to move towards the implementation of those directions. Now we are in 2016. If these studies are not carried out, we are afraid that mischief would continue. We, therefore, direct the Chairperson GCZMA to place before us complete schedule of the carrying capacity study of the coastal beaches in time bound manner on or before the next date. Failure to do so, we again warn the Authorities would incur consequences under Order XXI Rule 32 of the Code of Civil Procedure”.
When the Counsel appearing on behalf of GCZMA invited the Tribunals attention to the Order dated February 18, 2016 passed by the High Court of Bombay at Goa staying the effect and operation of the Order dated February 9, 2016 till appearance of Respondent No.4 therein, the NGT further observed “there is no stay to the directions passed by this Tribunal vide Judgment and Order dated December 17, 2014 in Application No.3/2014 (Aleixo Arnolfo Pareira Vs. State of Goa & 4 others).
The tribunal made it clear that GCZMA continues to remain under obligation to carry out the study to assess the carrying capacity of different beaches in State of Goa for providing such shacks and other temporary structures.
– See more at: http://englishnews.thegoan.net/story.php?id=12361#sthash.Uf6bt99r.dpuf
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/GTDC-to-shift-its-focus-to-South-Goa/articleshow/51265804.cms
With continued opposition to some of its projects in North Goa, it appears Goa tourism development corporation (GTDC) is now looking at South Goa to launch new services.
While opposition by locals pushed its services – hot air balloon and helicopter services – to South Goa, it believes addition of few more tourism-related activities in the South could turn it into a tourism hub which currently, relatively receives fewer tourists. than its north counterpart.
GTDC chairman Nilesh Cabral said that though they have shifted the hot air balloon service and helicopter service to South Goa, addition of more tourism services will divert flow of tourists to the South. Currently tourists are concentrated in North Goa alone. Tourism in South Goa, Cabral says, is limited to a few beaches besides Dudhsagar waterfalls.
The hot air balloon and helicopter services were relocated to South Goa after they were opposed by Calangute locals supported by MLA Michael Lobo and former MLA Agnel Fernandes. To add value to tourism in South Goa, GTDC is planning to start a laser show at the botanical gardens at Selaulim and bungee jumping as well. While the location for the bungee jumping activity has not been decided yet, he said it will be done soon.
“We do realize that for a tourist it is not economically attractive to travel to South Goa to avail of just one or two kinds of services. The number of tourists visiting South Goa will increase if we have more activities and attractions there,” said Cabral.
He added that he will speak to other BJP MLAs in South Goa who will co-operate with the GTDC in the event of them moving any of their projects in their constituency.
Currently, foreign tourists as well as high-end domestic tourists visit South Goa beaches which are more serene and beautiful; it is primarily domestic tourists who flock to Colva, and other North Goa beaches.
The Colva coastal circuit project-meant to improve tourist infrastructure facilities in the South Goa hotspot – lost its central funding due to delays in the execution of the project. The state government had to surrender funds to the Centre. The Centre had sanctioned 7.58 crore to initiate the project.
Most of the South Goa beaches lack proper access and parking facilities while focus of development of tourism facilities remained in North Goa.
Shack operators from South Goa have complained of lack of access to some beaches, as well as shortage of parking space. The problem becomes apparent on weekends during season time.
“The fall in numbers only show that the stunts and facades and upstart tricks of the tourism department are counterproductive, a gigantic waste of peoples money and profits for the crony capitalists – perhaps kickbacks to those who commission the nonsense”
http://englishnews.thegoan.net/story.php?id=12479
State receives just 463 Charters till date against 895 last season
PANAJI
The State has clocked only 463 Charter flights this season until February as against 895 it had welcomed the whole last season with insiders saying that it was doubtful the final figure would touch 500 before the end of the season.
The 463 Charter flights brought in 98,796 foreign tourists mainly from Russia around half the 1,61,316 charter tourists who flew into the State in 2014-15.
“It is without doubt a result of a downturn in the Russian economy and the consequent devaluation of the Rouble. Once a currency devalues versus the dollar, it becomes difficult to travel,” Ernest Dias who runs a popular travel agency dealing with the Russian Charters said.
“Even during the downturn, the largest number of tourists coming in are Russians,” he added to demonstrate how large and powerful the Russian travellers are.
Goa has come a long way from the 24 charter flights it received during the year 1985-86 when 24 charters flew in bringing 3568 tourists leading to a steady stream of foreigners into the State which peaked in 2013-14 when 1128 Charters flew in bringing in 2.61 lakh tourists. The State has never been able to match the 2013-14 figures with this year’s figures being the lowest in 2002-03 when the State received 384 charters bringing in 94,350 tourists.
The tourism industry has been imploring the government to reduce taxes as well as to offer incentives to individual travel agents per tourist they bring in, in order to boost the industry.
“We are facing stiff competition from our neighbouring tourist destinations like Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Bali, Philippines, Singapore due to their lower taxation, lower visa fees, lower airport fees, incentives and better infrastructure etc. Even a domestic tourist finds it cheaper to go to the South East Asia rather than come to Goa. The overall average taxation in Goa is around 38 per cent, which pushes up the cost of a holiday in Goa in comparison to these destinations,” the TTAG had said in a representation to the Chief Minister.
“Worldwide the Charters are given incentives and brochures and marketing support is offered by destinations worldwide by countries competing with Goa, like Turkey, Greece, Maldives, Sri Lanka and SouthEast Asia. We need to allocate a separate fund in this budget for this purpose which will increase the dormant figure of 0.5 million foreign visitors into Goa, to 1 million visitors,” TTAG’s Francisco de Bragança had said.
– See more at: http://englishnews.thegoan.net/story.php?id=12479#sthash.UEHr0YtN.dpuf
“Crony capitalism and government always align when it comes to exaggeration.Thomas cook is nobody to give the world certificates. You can buy one from them at a price. Thomas cook only knows only what profits mean. They have not even began to understand the deeper meaning of tourism”
http://www.epaperoheraldo.in/Details.aspx?id=19187&boxid=153528382&uid&dat=3%2F8%2F2016
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Lack-of-toilets-affecting-tourism-at-Candolim/articleshow/51304307.cms
Article appeared on 8th March 2016
Calangute: The lack of public toilets and changing rooms at Candolim is affecting the tourism business as tourists prefer going to Calangute where there are a number of public toilets-changing rooms, say local tourism industry stakeholders. The issue was raised during the recently held gram sabha of the Candolim panchayat.
Tourism stake-holders in Candolim point out that tour buses bring in large numbers of tourists daily to Calangute beach, even during the monsoon, due to which tourism stake-holders in Calangute are doing roaring business throughout the year. But these buses avoid Candolim beach because of this problem the lack of public toilets-changing rooms. As a result, stakeholders on Candolim beach are almost wholly reliant on charter tourists and domestic tourists staying in resorts there, the number of which dwindle during the monsoon.
