Panjim: Amidst Goa government emphasizing on hinterland tourism to boost footfalls, a survey done by the agency appointed by the State government, has proposed various projects in Canacona and Bicholim talukas.
The report prepared by the Research & Analyses unit of the KPMG Advisory Services Pvt Ltd of Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has suggested that the two talukas could be developed as pilot hinterland talukas. While Canacona, could be developed as a pilot taluka for a trekking corridor, involving both trekking amenities and eco-camps; Bicholim, could be developed as a pilot taluka for the new tourism products.
Of the hinterland projects already in the pipeline in Bicholim, are the Redevelopment of Bondla Zoo; Development of an adventure park in Mayem Lake and Upgradation of Arvalem falls site. All the three projects are under consideration, as per the survey report.
“Instead of relying exclusively on coastal areas, it is recommended to develop the aforementioned new tourism products as much as possible in the hinterland as this will participate in radically transforming Goa’s image as a tourism destination and as it will also help in spreading across the State the financial benefits of tourism,” the report states adding, “The blend of Christian, Hindu and native tangible and intangible heritage creates an atmosphere which can be found only in Goa. In some ways, Goa’s hinterland could be even re-branded as the “authentic Goa.”
By developing hinterland tourism activities, the report suggests, it is unlikely that hinterland tourism will replace the traditional beach tourism which has made the success of Goa. “Instead, it should be considered as a complement. Tourists will keep coming to Goa primarily for its beaches – but, with the right marketing efforts and suitable tourism products and infrastructure, they may also extend their stay in the hinterland,” it further states.
As the agency suggests developing and marketing hinterland tourism, it has also observed that Goa’s hinterland has been largely away from the financial benefits of tourism generated in the State. At the same time, the region has also been largely protected from the negative effects of mass tourism. Developing hinterland tourism therefore implies avoiding repeating the mistakes made in the coastal region.
“Overall, hinterland tourism should be in priority of limited scale to ensure that the new flows of tourists can be absorbed both by local communities in terms of social acceptance and by the limited local infrastructures; decentralized, to ensure local communities are in full ownerships of the projects, and also to guarantee quick results; and dense enough, so that enough tourism activities and amenities (especially accommodation) are available in the same zone. The development of two pilot talukas, as well as a series of incentives described in the financial relief section of this report, should help reaching this goal.”