PANJIM: While Goa is equated with fun and frolic, Goa Governor Mridula Sinha has advocated an urgent need to remove the misconception and instead promote Goa’s in the right manner.
“I always say (to the people) that (you) don’t come to Goa thinking each day is ‘eat, drink and make merry’. It is not. Goa has so many bhajan mandalis and competitions held in this regard and women participating in it are dressed up in complete clothes and jewelries. I show these photographs in North India said say ‘these are Goan women’. It is very important to promote this sanskruti (culture) and create awareness,” she said, addressing a gathering during the launch of Raj Bhavan Tour in the premises of the Governor’s residence on Friday.
Tourism Minister Manohar (Babu) Azgaonkar, present at the occasion, echoed her view reiterating that Goa will not tolerate nuisance-making tourists. “We are striving to make Goa as world’s number one tourist destination. Goa has God’s gifted natural beauty like the beaches, rivers and there are also religious structures and architectural landscapes. It is a heaven and everyone should enjoy these but not by destroying Goa’s culture and Goenkaponn. We don’t want tourists littering Goa and indulging in drug-menace,” he said.
Goa has always been wrongly seen as a destination for never-ending parties and adventures besides cheap liquor. Tourism stakeholders have often demanded the government take steps to improve Goa’s image. The minister said that the government has taken up the task to upgrade Goa’s infrastructure as well as introducing a Tourism Policy soon, that would help Goa get good quality tourists.
Azgaonkar is expected to call a meeting of all MLAs and stakeholders on January 16 to take a decision on the policy, draft of which was recently open for public views, suggestions and objections.
