Goa tourism to get a boost from GTDC

The mood to give tourism in Goa a good boost seems to have found new favour with the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) deciding to unveil a slew of proposals in that direction. Among the proposals, are plans to develop the various tourist properties of GTDC on the public private partnership mode and also to purchase a luxury cruise vessel to promote a new facet of tourism - "cruise tourism" in Goa. Also on the cards is the introduction of an air-conditioned hop-on-hop-off bus service in a hot tourism sector of north Goa.

The GTDC has therefore decided to appoint a reputed consultant for aiding the body in providing the necessary project development advisory services for the maintenance and development of various properties of the GTDC on the PPP model. The idea is to create the best possible alternatives at various GTDC properties for promotion of tourism and to enable world class infrastructure aimed at promoting hinterland tourism, educational tourism, adventure sports, floating marinas etc in a bid to generate additional revenue for the GTDC and also to re-invent idle assets into revenue generating assets.

GTDC has currently over 35 landed properties all over the state in both coastal and hinterland areas which have a great potential for development and revenue generation through proper utilisation. The total investment in various PPP projects is roughly estimated to be in the region of 450 to 500 crores.

The tenders for the appointment of consultants are expected to be floated in the near future so that the contemplated projects are made operational within a span of one year.

Goa's bird sanctuary at Chorao may get CWH grade

The Salim Ali's bird sanctuary at Chorao and the surrounding mangroves in the area are expected to get a protective cover if conferred with the status of a "Critical Wildlife Habitat"(CWH) area. However the bestowment of that status could finally rest with the villagers of Chorao and may need their approval before such a status is granted.

The CWH status is granted to those areas which are required for wildlife conservation  purposes. The state level expert committee has therefore called for a public hearing on September 15 2009, to elicit views of the Chorao villagers on the CWH proposal.

The Goa forest department is keeping its fingers crossed for the outcome of the above meeting and opine that since the area is already a notified sanctuary and no persons living in that area, the area being under the forest department of Goa, such a status bodes good for the bird sanctuary.

The villagers of Chorao may however have theirs own reservations about the particular status and may therefore seek to know in clear terms the terms and rules governing a "critical wildlife habitat". The forest department officials however feel that the meeting will be a smooth affair with no need for any anxiety to the villagers.

The Salim Ali bird sanctuary is spanned across an area of 1.8 sq km and is abounded with mangroves which provide a safe haven and a breeding space to many species of fish, insects and other wildlife.