PANJIM: Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte has hit back at Congress President Amit Patkar for his ‘baseless’ and ‘unsubstantiated’ remarks against the department.
Patkar had on Saturday alleged that a lot of illegalities are happening on the beaches and other tourist destinations with the blessings of people in power. He had also raised question over failed projects and polices of the tourism department.
In response to the charges, Khaunte on Sunday said that the queries raised by Patkar stems from ignorance of facts and knowledge of tourism sector and added that he was making baseless and unsubstantiated remarks against the department.
He said that it is hardly six months since he took over as the Tourism Minister and has in this short span of time put the entire tourism machinery on the job for reviewing, implementing and working on new and initiatives to take Goa Tourism to a new heights in the coming years.
The Minister said that the Department of Tourism & Goa Tourism Development Corporation are working together along with various experts and agencies to step up and give tourism an all new direction.
Khaunte said that Tourism Master Plan and Policy is a document that is being relied upon to steer tourism development in the State.
“The State government is focusing on seven areas for development in the next 5 years like Heritage & culture, Wellness, Adventure, Goan waters, MICE, eco/nature and leisure and entertainment,” he said.
Stating that several projects under Swadesh Darshan scheme are completed, a convention centre with 1,320 sitting capacity is proposed at Rua de Ourem, which is going to open galore of opportunities for Goa in MICE segment.
Khaunte announced that hop-on hop-off bus service will be launched by December this year. He said that the department has appointed a private operator for launch of Heli tours in the State, while for sea plane, feasible locations such as Mandovi River, Chapora River, Selaulim Dam etc are explored.
