PANJIM: For over a decade, Goa’s tourism landscape has transformed into a graveyard of “world-class” promises, where grand blueprints consistently capture headlines but fail to ever lift off. From grounded seaplanes and stalled ropeways to the ill-fated Unity Mall, a persistent execution deficit has left the State’s vision for luxury and aerial tourism trapped in the planning stage.
Seaplane services on the Mandovi and Chapora rivers, ropeways, helicopter services, Hop-On-Hop-Off buses, hot air balloons, paragliding services and mega coastal developments were added to the tourism portfolio to offer tourists aerial views of the State’s popular destinations.
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These proposals generated excitement but ultimately failed to take off due to regulatory hurdles, stiff local opposition, infrastructure gaps, execution delays and environmental concerns.
These abandoned ventures highlight a deepening chasm between the government’s premium ambitions and the reality on the ground.
Goa was all set to launch seaplane and amphibian rides for tourists. The seaplane service, carrying eight people on board failed to take off because the operator, SAR Aviation showed unwillingness to start operations, and the required infrastructure was not provided at the identified sites.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation rolled out seaplane operations under the UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) scheme. But the project failed to progress beyond the planning stage, according to a reply to a question tabled in the Rajya Sabha.
The amphibian bus, which could run on roads as well as float on water, had its maiden trip in the State, but was shelved after facing legal hurdles later on.
The government wanted to launch helicopter tourism to position heli-services as a new premium attraction aimed at boosting connectivity, luxury travel and tourism beyond the beaches. But this project was also shelved.
For the last decade, the Panjim-Reis Magos passenger ropeway project failed to move beyond the planning stage.
The project, which was awarded through an open competitive tender, had no bidders. The Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) also shelved the Heritage Interpretation Centre at Old Goa, which was proposed under the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) Scheme. The project was first halted after cannonballs were discovered during excavation even as villagers and heritage lovers opposed activities within the heritage area.
The government through the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) wanted to construct the Unity Mall project at Chimbel, and started construction work. However, due to stiff opposition from the villagers, the State decided to shift the Rs 201.72 crore project (later estimated cost revised to Rs 168 crore), but the new site for the mall construction is yet to be identified and finalised.
The Unity Mall is a central project intended to facilitate higher economic growth by providing a platform for local artisans, MSMEs, self-help groups, etc, to market local products. The proposed project comprised 36 stalls, one for each State/Union Territory of the country to showcase handicrafts, handlooms and such products.
The GTDC’s decision to terminate the Leave and Licensee Agreement dated 21.03.2013 due to defaults committed by the licensee is another addition to the growing list of abandoned ventures. The Corporation was to develop 22,000 square metres of land located at Vagator, Bardez, for a monthly licence fee of Rs 4,44,486. But no project was developed or proposed under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model by the GTDC as of today.
Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) president Jack Sukhija said, “Very few tourism projects have worked in the State. Most of these projects have failed to benefit the operators. The government should look at what the touristic State requires. We need a Convention Centre at an ideal location. However, the Aguad interactive museum showcasing Goa’s history and culture has been performing very well.”
Former Travel and Tourism Association of Goa president Nilesh Shah said, “Tourism projects undertaken in the State must be practical and economically viable. Detailed feasibility studies are essential before launching ambitious ventures such as seaplane services to ensure their long-term sustainability.”
Former Calangute MLA Agnelo Fernandes.”The government’s priorities are very wrong. The government is trying to attract high-end tourists when there is lack of basic facilities for them. Today a family cannot walk on the beaches due to touts and pimps menace. They cannot walk on the beach as drug dealers are harassing them. Goa has become gaddas tourism destination as there is proliferation of gaddas mostly run by outsiders on the beaches and on roadsides for 24 hours. There is not regulations for water sports activities and nil safety standards.
An official informed that the government is reviving some of the centrally sponsored tourism projects. Although the government decided to drop the proposed heritage interpretation centre at Old Goa after the discovery of cannon balls, efforts are underway to introduce other tourist-centric schemes at Old Goa. “The government has sought the Centre’s permission to start different components/amenities at Old Goa and it is awaited,” the official said.
The government is also shifting the Unity Mall project to Panjim, while efforts are underway to retender the helipad project under the Swadesh Darshan tourism scheme.
