TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has recorded a net profit of Rs 40 lakh for the fiscal year 2012-13, attributing it to a pro-active and professional management of assets.
The GTDC Board which met on Tuesday passed the financial statement for 2012-13, in addition to approving a host of other activities to be introduced in the next couple of months.
Chairman of GTDC Nilesh Cabral said, “Achieving profits has been possible due to well channelized efforts and optimum utilization of idle assets of the Corporation and generation of revenue by developing our properties.”
The GTDC Board on Tuesday also consented to implementation of the VRS scheme for its employees so as to reduce excess manpower and to contain the salary burden incurred by the Corporation.
“This will enable GTDC to save huge outflow of salary and associated costs thereby enabling it to become a professionally managed organization,” Cabral said.
This scheme will be implemented after obtaining approvals from the State government.
In a bid to add more bite to adventure tourism in Goa, the Board approved a proposal from Maritime Energy Heli Air Services Pvt Ltd (MEHAIR), Mumbai, for introduction of seaplane services in Goa. This proposal had been approved in principle two months ago.
The proposed tie-up will be for a period of five years and MEHAIR will share revenues with GTDC through on-line and off-line bookings.
“The Sea Plane services are expected to give a big boost as it will depict Goa as one of the few states in India to operate sea plane services for tourists thereby promoting high-end adventure tourism,” explained Cabral.
The GTDC Chairman disclosed that these planes can also be used for sky diving and other adventure sports which may be introduced at a later stage depending on its viability.
Initially MEHAIR will deploy a single engine Cessna plane which can fly nine passengers and depending upon the response additional planes will be brought in. The agreement with MEHAIR will be executed shortly, GTDC informed.
In another major decision, the Board also approved proposal for setting up of Goa Food Stall at Delhi Haat, INA Market, New Delhi.
A stall of 60 sqm will be designed in the form of a traditional Goan Shack which will serve Goan cuisine for food lovers from India and abroad.
The food stall will be operational throughout the year and will also help provide information for Foreign and Domestic tourists who are interested in visiting Goa. Delhi Haat, according to GTDC witnesses footfalls around 3000 to 5000 on an average, every day.
The Board on Tuesday also decided to implement new activities at Mayem Lake like floating barbeque, zip lines, water zorbing and more activities on a trial basis, starting from the forthcoming tourist season.
This is expected to increase the tourist arrivals at Mayem Lake.
Through this project, GTDC aims at promoting hinterland tourism and aims at restoring the popularity of Mayem Lake, thereby resulting in employment opportunities for the youth of the area.
