PANJIM: After the hiatus of six years, the Dona Paula jetty redeveloped as part of Development Coastal Circuit II under Swadesh Darshan Scheme was inaugurated by Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on Saturday, on the occasion of his birthday.
However, the tourists visiting the Dona Paula jetty will now have to pay an entry fee of Rs 50 per adult and Rs 25 for children aged between 10 and 18 years. The entry will be free for locals, said Khaunte.
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He said that the entry fee will be applicable for tourists and it will work as a revenue generation model for the Department of Tourism.
“This system is followed in other parts of the country, including places, namely the Qutub Minar in Delhi,” he added.
“Tourists who are coming to Goa to enjoy and spending in the State; I don’t think they will talk about the entry fee of Rs 50 and Rs 25. The fee amount is meagre compared to type of facilities provided to the tourists here. They can see location and take photographs,” Khaunte said.
He said that the Department of Tourism has completed the development work at the jetty and parking area at Dona Paula. The project is a part of the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Scheme introduced by the Union Ministry of Tourism with an aim to position tourism as a major engine of economic growth and job creation, developing circuits having tourist potential in a planned and prioritised manner.
Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (GSIDC) Vice Chairman and Saligao MLA Kedar Naik, Director of Tourism Pravimal Abhishek, IAS; Managing Director of Goa Tourism Development Corporation Ltd (GTDC) Brijesh Manerkar, Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) Councillor Nelson Cabral and dignitaries were present, while Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Revenue Minister Atanasio Babush Monserrate, Taleigao MLA Jennifer Monserrate, GTDC Chairman and MLA Ganesh Gaonkar and CCP Mayor Rohit Monserrate abstained.
Meanwhile, referring to a video wherein tourists riding two-wheelers speeding away from the police and escape any kind of fines for traffic violations, Khaunte said that the tourist should follow the rules when in the State.
He pointed out that tourists do not follow the traffic rule and the government is blamed.
“The government wants to promote responsible and sustainable tourism,” he said.
