Team Herald
PANJIM: Over a year after Colva beach was selected under the Centre’s ‘Iconic Tourism Sites Development Project,’ the project is expected to be approved this year.
The revelation was made during a meeting of Goa Tourism with the Union Minister of State for Tourism Prahlad Singh Patel on Thursday assuring all support to Goa’s tourism infrastructure projects. In the meeting with Rajya Sabha MP Vinay Tendulkar, Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) Dayanand Sopte and Tourism Secretary J Ashok Kumar among others in New Delhi, Patel has agreed to visit the coastal State for commissioning the centrally funded tourism projects once completed.
The State delegation discussed matters pertaining to central funding for tourism projects and development of Colva beach as an iconic tourism site.
A press statement issued by the Tourism Department states that Patel was briefed on various initiatives taken by Goa Tourism and was requested for his support in developing Goa as a World Class Tourism Destination. “Patel has assured all assistance in this direction and also assured to visit Goa in the near future for inauguration of the centrally funded tourism projects,” it states.
A team of Goa Tourism officials led by Kumar held meetings with Union Tourism Secretary Yogendra Tripathi to discuss and finalise funding for development of Colva beach as an Iconic Tourism Destination. The project is expected to be approved later this year, Kumar said.
The Central government, in April 2018, selected Colva beach under the ‘Iconic Tourism Sites Development Project’ to boost tourism, community development and infrastructure. Colva is the only beach amongst 11 other tourism locations in the country to be selected for the project.
