PANJIM: Noting that Goa is celebrating sixty years of its liberation, Union Minister for Tourism G Kishan Reddy reiterated that the central government will ensure everything to help Goa in boosting tourism by extending substantial funding to Goa with the aim of making the State the top tourist destination on the international map.
Reddy was speaking at the inauguration of the helipad at Dhauji, Old Goa on Monday in the presence of Union Minister of State Tourism Shripad Naik, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar along with other MLAs and senior officials of the State and Central government.
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“Goa is an important tourist destination in the country and people across the globe see Goa as the best tourism destination. Requisite support is needed for tourism in Goa. A lot of tourists come to Goa and this puts pressure on the infrastructure requirements. We will fulfil genuine needs of Goa with regards to tourism development as it occupies an important place on national level”, said Reddy.
He also announced that he intends to visit Goa next month to conduct a survey in regards to the necessities of Goa to strengthen infrastructure and other amenities for tourism.
The minister then recalled his experiences with the Israel military and spoke about how after the mandatory military training, the soldiers of the Israel military choose Goa as their favourite destination owing to its natural beauty and affordability.
“The tourism sector is an important employment generator and the Union government is extending all the support for enhancing the tourism sector in Goa thereby creating more jobs,” Reddy stated.
The minister also relayed a message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the Union government is always with the citizens of Goa.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sawant thanked the PM and Reddy for their cooperation in creating a helipad for Goa. He stated that the new helipad had been constructed by spending close to Rs 5 crore.
“The helipad will help to encourage heli-tourism in the State. The helipad would be used by the government and private sector to cater and provide a boost to tourism in the State,” said Sawant.
He further appreciated the efforts of all those who have contributed in construction of the helipad.
The General Manager of Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), Deepak Narvekar, said that the heli-tourism will be introduced as a new arm for promotion of tourism activities in the State. Regular heli-tours and related activities will be conducted from this site which is expected to promote high-end Tourism in the State.
“Heli-tours from the site are expected to begin in December 2021 after all the permissions and approvals are secured. This site will be handed over to an operations and management partner, for which the tendering process is underway to select the edible bidder”, Narvekar disclosed.
The Helipad has been developed as part of the Swadesh Darshan (SD) Coastal circuit theme, a central sector scheme that was launched by the Union Ministry of Tourism, for the integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits in India.
The Tourism Department had acquired this land at Old Goa on the banks of River Mandovi. Under this project, Vacuum Dewatered Flooring (VDF) flooring for an area of 4,550 sq mts and compound wall for a length of 490 mts for safety purposes has been constructed. Parking facilities for tourists, reception with a coffee cafe, access tower for security, parking bay for helicopters, gated compound wall with barbed wire fencing, illumination on the periphery of the helipad and a private access road has been completed at a total cost of Rs 4.9 crore.
