With the new terminal at Goa International Airport, Dabolim inaugurated last week by Union Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh, the state is all set to march ahead towards becoming a world-class tourist destination. The new terminal, which will be operational in January 2014, has a total peak hour capacity of 2,750 passengers. This comes at a time when Goa is gearing up to expect increased tourist traffic into the state.
As 2013 draws to a close, Goa Tourism is preparing to ensure that tourists and residents alike have a memorable experience during Christmas and New Year in the state. There are also three major EDM fests here that are all set to attract crowds. While tourists are busy planning their vacations to Goa, the officials are putting measures in place to ensure that visitors have an unforgettable experience in the state. The state is going all out to ensure safety and security of tourists and residents during the peak season. The Government has ensured the presence of Lifeguards on all beaches so that a traveler enjoys his stay here in Goa.
Soon, women taxi drivers will be operating in the cities of Panjim, Margao, Mapusa and Vasco, for exclusive use of women passengers and families. The service is being introduced by Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC).
In addition, the state is also looking to upgrade infrastructure and other related facilities which will put Goa on par with any other top international holiday destination. A few projects that are underway are construction of tourism jetty, multi-level car parking, Baga beach beutification and tourist information plaza. There are 28 projects in all which are scheduled for completion over the next three years.
Beaches, which are one of the major attractions in Goa, are in the process of getting a makeover to make them more clean, safe and tourist-friendly. Goa Tourism has taken an initiative to form a Comprehensive Management of Cleanliness on all the beach stretches across the state.
Dilip Parulekar, Tourism Minister, Government of Goa, acknowledged Goa’s popularity as a destination of choice among travelers and said, “Our aim is to make Goa the number one destination for vacationing all over the world. Apart from promoting just leisure we are also looking at improving and promoting MICE facilities in the state as Goa has tremendous growth potential in this sector as well. Upgrading our infrastructure to good quality standards and maintaining this will be a big step forward for us. In addition, we are optimistic that facilities like the new airport terminal will help us realize our vision. Achieving a 10 per cent growth in the tourist inflow is a huge milestone for us and we want to continue this in the coming year. Goa is a favourite among several travelers already and with our new initiatives and developments, we hope to increase this number and also want visitors to come and explore the different sides of Goa.”
