Min Khaunte says Govt will take every opportunity to ensure that the economy grows
Goa Govt looking for new PR agency; need quality tourists & better infra: Khaunte
Goemkarponn desk
PORVORIM: Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte today said that the government has started talking of Goa beyond beaches and has to take every opportunity to ensure that the economy rises and employment is created.
MLA Digambar Kamat had raised the issue of the drop in the number of foreign tourists visiting from Goa
“We have started talking about Goa beyond beaches. We have to take every opportunity to ensure that the economy rises and employment is created; Goa is there, we need to only position it. We want quality and not quantity. Kerala is one such success story that we should learn from,” said Khaunte.
He further said that he does not agree that Goa should not participate in the domestic shows. PM’s initiative of Dekho Apna Desh needs to be promoted and we also have to show the destination nationally and internationally.
“These countries are a potential threat to us,” he said, citing the example of Saudi Arabia which is working on the Red Sea Development project that is being completed before time. Bahrain is also developing as a preferred wedding destination, the minister said.
Khaunte said that the Tourism sector in Goa faced a setback during the COVID-19 pandemic but the footfall is now back to the pre-pandemic levels, Khaunte said “Every country has started moving towards tourism as an important sector,” he said, adding that the state is exploring tourism potential beyond the beaches.
Khaunte said that the government is looking out for a new PR agency for pulling quality tourists.
“Goa has made it clear that we are stressing quality over quantity and the `Goa beyond beaches’,” Khaunte told
During the pandemic, the tourism industry in Goa realized that it was too much dependent on markets like the UK and Russia, he said.
Minister said that MPA had taken up modernization of cruise facilities by developing the International and Domestic Cruise Building and also other ancillary facilities like Ro-Ro, and Ro-Pax are under construction and will be planned by March 2024.
“MPA has taken up modernization of cruise facilities by developing the International and Domestic Cruise Building and also other ancillary facilities like Ro-Ro, Ro-Pax are under construction and will be planned by March 2024,” said Khaunte.
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