Centre for Responsible Tourism, Goa

“Chief Minister Parsekar and ex-chief minister Parriker have often stated that NGO’s and people are obstacles to development and they deem tourism as an important development activity. Development must have one basic component. About this, GTDC chairman knows nothing. When people are not consulted development is not happening. The protests in Cansauim are right and the absurd entertainment of tourists with filth money should cease. GTDC needs and overhaul.”

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/…/articlesh…/51304259.cms

Article appeared on 8th March 2016

In a meeting to create awaremess and protest against the helicopter joyrides in Arossim, organized by the Cansaulim villagers action committee and Cansaulim Arossim Cuelim civic and consumer forum at Cansaulim market on Monday, speakers lambasted the government of the day for its anti-Goan and anti-people policies.

Local medical practitioner Marconi Correia stated that Goa is witnessing one of the worst governments of all times. “The helicopter rides, that have started in the village, have no permission from the air traffic controller nor from the airport authority of India or the village panchayat. No norms are being followed and Goa is seeing the law of the jungle. Things will get far worse before they get better. The peace and tranquility of our serene village is getting trampled upon by the authorities like GTDC,” said Correia.

Activist Judith Almeida was of the opinion that there is absolutely no planning on the part of the government of Goa, who cannot provide basic infrastructure and necessity like uninterrupted water and power and work overtime to force “nonsensical and whimsical things” like helicopter rides for the affluent and the poor Goan is struggling for basic needs. The youth of Goa are forced to leave Goan shores as the government of the day lacks vision and proper planning with “helicopter rides” being its priority.

http://englishnews.thegoan.net/story.php?id=12598

Who could have believed that 5-star hotels in the last few days of March will ever be able to charge much higher tariff than even New Year’s Eve? Interestingly, that’s really the case, at least for hotels in South Goa. And, that\’s due to the upcoming DefExpo 2016, which is going to be held at Quitol in Quepem from March 28 to 31.

Sample this: The Leela Goa, Cavelossim is charging Rs 61,075 per night tariff if you check in on March 27 and check out on April 1. Park Hyatt in Cansaulim is charging Rs 52,300 per night for those days. This is double of what 5-star hotels typically charge on New Year’s Eve.

While The Leela Goa and Park Hyatt still have rooms, Taj Exotica in Benaulim and The Lalit Golf & Spa Resort in Canacona are sold out during four days of DefExpo.

Ralph de Sousa, chairman of de Souza Group, said, “DefExpo is a really high profile exhibition, which will bring a lot of high income travellers to Goa. In fact, everyone from hotels to shops to taxis to flights will really do good business for two weeks. This is because a lot of people will actually start reaching Goa much before the expo for planning, designing and etc”.

While, the 5-star hotels in South Goa will make merry merry, the fortunes of 5-star hotels in North Goa aren’t going to change as significantly.

For instance, Taj – Fort Aguada is charging Rs 22,933 per night if you check in on March 27 and check out on April 1.

Travel & Tourism Association of Goa had earlier made it clear that it supports DefExpo as it is good for growth and to arrest the decline in tourism trade. For tourism trade, DefExpo couldn’t have come at a better time when they are seeing pressure due to slowdown in Russian demand.

– See more at: http://englishnews.thegoan.net/story.php?id=12598#sthash.sigJqo4k.dpuf

“Will Nilesh Cabral have the courage to address an independent gathering of environmentalists, tourism activists, socialists and economists and put forward his facts? Can he pledge that he will withdraw his absurd plan is proven wrong?”

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Heli-rides-are-a-boon-GTDC-tells-locals/articleshow/51324158.cms

Goa tourism development corporation (GTDC) has urged the locals of Cansaulim, Arossim and Cuelim (CAC) not to be swayed away by anti-government factions with regards to helicopter joyrides and to consider this new tourism initiative as an advantage and boon for the area and surrounding villages.

Responding to criticism from the Cansaulim village action committee (CVAC) and Cansaulim Arossim Cuelim civic consumer forum (CACCCF), the GTDC on Tuesday in a press note, clarified that there is nothing illegal about the helicopter joyrides and the operators (Pawan Hans), is a government of India enterprise.

It has got the required statutory clearances/permissions from the director general of civil aviation (DGCA), Navy, district administration, airport authority and the police to conduct commercial heli-joyride services from its current base in South Goa. The GTDC further pointed out that Pawan Hans has a similar service operating in neighbouring Maharashtra (Mumbai) where the joyrides are a huge success.

http://www.epaperoheraldo.in/Details.aspx?id=19207&boxid=155113688&uid&dat=3%2F9%2F2016

http://www.epaperoheraldo.in/Details.aspx?id=19229&boxid=15614949&uid&dat=3%2F10%2F2016