PANJIM: The launch of Goa Tourism’s three ambitious ventures – seaplanes, hot air balloons and amphibious vehicles – has been delayed by a month, thanks to the Central government’s failure to issue time bound clearances.
The projects, which were expected to cater to a large influx of tourists before closing for monsoon, will now officially begin next tourist season.
Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has confirmed the bureaucratic hurdle even as it is optimistic to get clearances from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) by month-end for the seaplanes and hot air balloons projects.
“We are optimistic to start the new kind of tours once we get all the clearances. Since monsoon is not the time to introduce the services, we will only conduct its trial during this period to eventually commence them full-fledge for the citizens in the ensuing tourist season,” GTDC MD Nikhil Desai told Herald.
While amphibious vehicles are still to obtain ‘road certification’, the other two projects are awaiting related clearances from the DGCA. Desai stated that they have been in regular contact with the concerned officials. “The trio projects are out of the box thinking by the Tourism department,” Desai asserted adding, “We are ready with the ground work and certain to get these services into motion next month on trial,” he reiterated.
As per the project announced by the government last November, Mumbai-based Maritime Energy Heli Air Services Pvt Ltd (MEHAIR) will launch the seaplane venture from Vasco to Dona Paula, to Coco beach in Nerul, Miramar and Siolim river.
“The eight-seater seaplane will pick up passengers at Dabolim airport and fly them to the destination, for instance, off Coco beach in just seven minutes. It will land in the water close to a floating jetty onto which the passengers will alight. Smaller boats will ferry the passengers to the shore from where they can drive away,” a tourism official explained.
Officials anticipate the hot air balloons and amphibious vehicles will encourage hinterland tourism in the State with the sky tour giving a boom to wedding tourism.
Delhi-based Camping Retreats Pvt Ltd has been selected to provide the hot air balloons service whereas Goa-based Amphibious Designs India Pvt Ltd along with ACGL Pvt Ltd will manufacture six amphibious vehicles using US technology to operate on land as well as water.
“Both adventure services will focus on highlighting Goa’s hinterlands and will give tourists an opportunity to explore the rich geography of the State via the sky and the waterways… The initial plan to introduce hot air balloon is at Dudhsagar waterfalls,” he said.
