Team Herald
MARGAO: Ten students from V M Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education (VMSIIHE), Manora-Raia, have got lucky and got a ticket to Portugal.
A Portuguese tourism delegation visited the institution to discuss in detail about the MoU signed between Turismo de Portugal and VMSIIHE recently. It is a project to exchange students and make it a bridge between Portugal and Goa.
Ms Ana Mendes Godinho, Secretary of State of Tourism, Portugal, along with President of Tourism, Portugal, Luis Araujo and Rui Alberto Carvalho Baceira – Consul general of Portugal in Goa, India, A M Gude of VMSIIHE, Director Mirza Shaikh and others were present at the visit.
On the occasion Ms Ana Mendes said, “We are here to know the new friends. This partnership is to exchange students with India and especially Goa. This is our first project and it will foster the relationship and improve tourism of both the places.”
“It will foster the relationship with the people and Consul General was the man who got the brilliant idea. In fact, every Portuguese dreams of knowing Goa and it is a part of our hearts. Even India for us is in priority and we know the future is here and the scope is fantastic,” she said adding, “We can be two strategic crucial points in tourism. It was very emotional and touching relation.”
Answering a question on Brexit, the President of Tourism Luis Araujo said, “We get 12 million tourists in Portugal which is more than our population. We are diversifying the market. We have several Indians coming too and we want that the present 30,000 Indians to increase.”
“We have achieved the international dream of Salgaonkar and Portugal is the best strategic market,” said A M Gude.
The Portuguese Consul said, “Goa and Portugal share a special relationship and we have a lot to learn in terms of tourism form the Portugal. Huge flow going from Goa to Portugal and we want to make Goa particular destination for Portuguese.”
