TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Tourism department’s recent proposals of introducing a seaplane, amphibious vehicle, hot air ballooning and ‘ropeway’ from Campal to the Reis Magos fort, have been met with opposition from ruling MLA Michael Lobo who argued that all this is merely ‘eyewash’.
The Calangute BJP MLA feels that Goa being a tourism brand need not compete with international tourist destinations, considering that tourists visiting the State prefer the local flavour.
“All these proposals about the ropeway, sea planes and amphibious vehicles are merely eyewash. Nothing is going to materialize here. These projects will never take off,” Lobo said. He suggested that ‘a proper feasibility study of the tourism sector needs to be undertaken before proposing such international branded projects’.
Lobo, who has been at loggerheads with Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar, said that tourists visit Goa for its hospitality and the warmth of the people. “Goa tourism is trying to compete internationally, while it should actually concentrate on its strengths. Foreign tourists visiting the State are looking for clean and hygienic conditions, markets, proper roads and other infrastructure,” he said.
Tourism department last month launched the seaplane, amphibious vehicle and hot air ballooning in a bid to attract high-end tourists. On Wednesday, the government also gave its nod for tendering the ropeway from Campal to Reis Magos fort. GTDC, which is a special purpose vehicle for tourism projects, had already invited expressions of interest (EoI) for the project.
Pointing to the recent gang-rape of two Delhi-based girls, Lobo said the State needs to seriously have an image makeover. “The priority is to make the State safe for tourists. We need to see that incidents like rape do not occur here,” he said.
The MLA also said that the government should ban dance bars promoting prostitution on the coastal belt.
