TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Goa Tourism Development Corporation is planning to upgrade its hotel/ residencies in prime locations to five star status through a joint venture, to face the competition from private sector, which is likely to put them beyond the reach of budget tourists.
Chairman of GTDC, Nilesh Cabral, told Herald, “It is time for us to move out of the concept of Goa Tourist Residencies for budget tourists. “Our residencies are not in very good condition,” pointing out that those in Colva and Miramar are in urgent need of repairs and up-gradation to meet competition from the private sector. The up-gradation includes more facilities such as swimming pools and health clubs at Colva and Miramar residencies.
GTDC plans to appoint advisers to draw the road map to get residencies in key locations spruced up even as the plan is to have all the 13 hotels repaired and upgraded.
Cabral said since GTDC is facing a cash crunch on this front it intends to work with agencies to invest and help the corporation in this direction. GTDC is also trying to generate revenue by utilising its properties and through other sources, Cabral informed. From this income we are planning to renovate the Panjim Residency on our own, he said.
“This could cost us at least Rs 6 crore,” he said pointing out that empanelment of architects for this project has already commenced.
The Panjim Residency, in the capital city, he said needs an overall facelift and work on this could begin by March. “We may even consider closing this residency for a few months when renovations begin.
The GTDC chairman said that it was also time for the corporation to think of increasing its tariff once the residencies ( in prime locations) are done up. GTDC will tie up with service providers to maintain certain segments which will not affect the corporation’s coffers. Cabral said that the corporation will also have additional responsibility of fast tracking tourism projects for Goa and utilise central funding allocated for this purpose
