PANJIM: With Goa’s popularity as a renowned tourist destination at stake considering the poor response from the domestic as well as international visitors, the Tourism Department has taken up the cudgels to bring back its charm by promoting yet another tourism facet of Goa – culture and heritage.
Taking a cue from Kerala that displays its culture and tradition at important tourist locations all round the year; Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has decided to work on the same lines. The Corporation has proposed to soon launch a live fusion entertainment show at Baga.
“Unless there is a festival or a function in the State, the tourists don’t get to see Goa’s culture. So we are curating an event wherein Goan folk dance like fugdi and mando will be performed and songs played, against the backdrop of modernity. It will be like a fusion for the tourists every evening,” GTDC MD Nikhil Desai told reporters on the sidelines of the launch of Raj Bhavan Tour on Friday.
The venue for the proposed ticketed show will be Baga parking lot with Desai claiming that a small corner of the space will be utilized.
In its second project, the GTDC has decided to restore Cabo De Rama fort. The GTDC conceded that the fort is in a ‘bad state’ and needs attention. “The Tourism and Archives & Archaeology departments have come together to improve and restore the fort. It would be a good tourist attraction,” Desai said adding that the original sanctity of the fort will not be interfered with.
Another intervention in heritage tourism undertaken is to complete the project of converting the former Central Jail at Aguada into a ‘heritage museum.’ The GTDC MD said that the permission from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is expected soon after which the work will begin in full force.
“The Aguada Jail will be converted into a heritage museum showcasing Goa’s freedom struggle. There will also be sound and light show wherein stories of Goa’s freedom struggle will be showcased. An Audio Visual room will also be created to show small incidents of freedom struggle like the Cuncolim revolt, etc. We have also decided to place historical artifacts of the struggle and to also keep (put on sale) souvenirs for the tourists,” he said adding that the GTDC has chalked out proposal to ensure that tourists spend at least 4-6 hours. The Rs 30-crore project will be completed within 12-18 months soon after a final approval is received, an officer said. The project under Central government Swadesh Darshan Scheme has been pending ASI permission.
