The Hindu : Karnataka News : Goa to seek special category tag for improving tourism potential

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 05, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Goa to seek special category tag for improving tourism potential

Special Correspondent

It will bring higher investment in tourism related infrastructure
Goa to be projected as the leading tourism destination

PANAJI: Banking on its reputation as one amongst the top five international tourism destinations, the coastal tourist State will soon approach the Centre seeking a special category status in terms of tourism.

The move is aimed at seeking higher investment in tourism related infrastructure.

Inaugurating a seminar on financial reforms, organised by State’s Finance Department and Debt Management Cell on Thursday, Finance Minister Dayanand Narvekar disclosed the idea and said the Government would like to develop its infrastructure by getting a “special status and special package of infrastructure.”

Recounting the experience of several States which had hitherto obtained special sops and tax incentives for industrial investors from the Centre based on a special category status in terms of industry,

Mr. Narvekar remarked: “Their experience was that the industry no doubt flourished but not the State.”

He said: “We would project Goa as the leading tourism destination to merit massive funding for infrastructure development in terms of roads, power, water supply and sanitation, sewerage, etc.”

The State has emerged as fast growing and at the same time well-managed economy in recent years. The State was now promoting public-private projects to develop infrastructure and sustain the tempo of development.

B.M. Misra, Adviser, Reserve Bank of India(RBI), Mumbai, made a presentation on financial reforms undertaken by State Governments.

T. Rabi Shankar, DGM, RBI, Mumbai, made a presentation on debt management of State Governments, while Anupam Kishore, Joint Secretary, Finance Department, Goa, made a presentation on “Financial reforms in Goa-dilemmas and prospects.”

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