Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa government is encouraging theme-based tourism, in yet another move to woo tourists, particularly to remote parts of the State whilst also tap the potential of villages. The government, with an aim to develop villages on the tourism front, has decided to allocate Rs 50 lakh to each village undertaking tourism-related infrastructural work.
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Tribal, pre-historic, handicrafts, fishing, heritage, spiritual, agriculture, feni trails, adventure, nature expedition, backwaters and wellness are some of the themes, the government is looking at promoting to create a Village Tourism circuit.
This circuit will act as an independent and strong tourism product, which will have a pull factor for attracting like-minded and responsible tourists to the State.
The Department of Tourism will undertake various tourism infrastructure development works in the initial identified villages, as per the suitability of the theme across Goa. These villages would be selected by the Selection Committee (comprising of Secretary Tourism, Director Tourism, Managing Director — GTDC, TTAG and two subject experts appointed by Department of Tourism) based on various factors such as demographics, socio-economic factors, availability of natural attractions, heritage sites, prevalence of arts and crafts, cuisine, Goan music and folkdances, and other tourism potential elements.
The Department will then allocate the funds based on analyses by the Selection Committee in the selected village panchayats, after due consultation with the local body in the broad areas comprising of livelihood, commercial space for sale of local products/arts/crafts, etc, basic development of market area, multi-utility hall for organising local fairs, festivals, live performances etc. Safety arrangements, water ATMs, community waste bins, public toilets, Wi-Fi facilities, transport, solar streetlights-pathway lighting, etc will also be emphasized. A task force formed by the tourism department will coordinate with the village panchayats for the purpose, as the scheme titled ‘Tourist Villages Development Scheme 2021’ was notified just recently.
