TEAM HERALD
VASCO: From duty-free shops and money exchange counters to the showcasing of Goan cultural programmes and facilities to anchor luxury yachts, the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) is readying various tourism measures to welcome 30 cruise liners estimated to visit the port during the forthcoming tourism season.
Speaking to Herald, MPT Chairman P Mara Pandiyan said about 30 cruise liners are expected to anchor at the new cruise terminal at the harbour. “The cruise liners are big and nearly 2,000-3,000 foreign tourists on each cruise will arrive at MPT’s new cruise terminal,” he informed.
“Besides the 30 cruise liners expected to berth at the cruise terminal, for the first time MPT will also allow luxury yachts to anchor in the port,” said Pandiyan.
Pandiyan informed that besides the normal reception to tourists, MPT is in touch with different agencies to organise cultural programmes during the arrival of tourists at the port and added that this would be made a permanent affair.
“A lot of tourists who visited last year are expected to visit Goa again this season and they had appreciated the traditional Goan cultural programme presented on their arrival at the port. MPT wants to make this a permanent feature for all cruise liners arriving at the port,” the MPT chairman said.
“Besides the cruise liners which will berth for only a day, there are other cruise liners which are expected to make an overnight halt and we will have additional traditional Goan programmes at the berth.”
In addition to the existing duty-free shop at the port, Pandiyan said the MPT would add another duty-free shop for the benefit of tourists this season.
“Besides the two duty-free shops at the port, MPT also plans to set up money exchange counters, as many banks have indicated their interest to set up their money exchange counters,” he said.
With its revenues hit by a ban on coal operations and a halt in mining activity, the MPT has been diversifying its business by handling other products and it hopes to add further revenue with the setting up of the new cruise terminal.
