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Govt. finalises tourism master plan

Special Correspondent

PANAJI: A piece of good news for Goa lovers. It is no more a State of just beaches, temples and churches. Soon, the Government will enter into a tie-up with private sector to add water sports, adventure sports and eco-tourism to tourist packages in the Western Ghats.

Aware of the need to offer more to retain its edge in tourism, the Government has finalised Tourism Master Plan: Goa-2011(TMP) with emphasis on "strategic planning for long-term tourism development with focus on infrastructure".

According to the Economic Survey 2005-06 presented to the State Assembly during the budget session that ended last week, the master plan has identified several sports and activities such as scuba diving, snorkelling, paragliding, parasailing, yachting, river rafting, trekking, cycling, skating, jogging, and sea surfing for tourism promotion.

Some of the activities suggested in the master plan would be mainly set up in private sector with guidelines for regulation. Infrastructure is to be developed at the leisure tourism destinations such as beaches, water bodies, springs, and lakes.

The focus of the diversification activities would be the beautiful hinterland of the State dotted with hillocks, areca groves, cashew and coconut plantations, and artisans' villages.

The Government's thrust on tourism diversification is evident when in his annual budget for 2006-07 presented to the State Assembly last week, Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane unveiled a proposal for a 18-hole golf course of international standards through private sector participation and laid emphasis on beach management, beach safety, parking spaces, wayside facilities, construction of cottages and restaurants at various tourist places throughout the State.

Aware of the need to resolve the tussle between the tourist taxi operators and the tour operators, Mr. Rane has proposed a one-year moratorium on buying new tourist vehicles.

Mr. Rane's budget has dealt with the continued demand of the hospitality industry to redress some of the anomalies in the Luxury Tax and VAT system. Luxury tax, entertainment tax and VAT structures have been rationalised, simplified and restructured with a slew of concessions. The Government has proposed to remove services such as casinos, water sports and boat cruises from the levy of luxury tax and make them taxable under entertainment tax.

The State, known for peaceful co-existence, received 22 lakh tourists, including 3.26 lakh foreign tourists, in 2005. The State received 425 chartered aircraft last season.

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Govt. finalises tourism master plan

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