Government will soon formulate the Hinterland Tourism Policy to explore Goa beyond beaches: Rohan Khaunte
Porvorim: The Tourism Minister, Rohan Khaunte, informed the state legislative assembly that the government will soon formulate the Hinterland Tourism Policy to explore Goa beyond beaches.
The government has already formed the Homestay Scheme and Caravan Scheme to supportHinterland Tourism, he added
He also informed the legislative assembly that Rs. 10 crores have been approved for tourism development of Maye and surrounding area under Destination Challenge Mode.
Dicholi MLA Dr. Khantey was replying to a stared question on inter-village tourism raised by Bicholim MLA Chandrakant Shetye during the question and answer hour.
About 82 lakh domestic and 4.5 lakh foreign tourists entered Goa last year and Dr shetye demanded to provide the statistics of how many tourists preferred inter-village tourism. Tourism Minister Khanute said that the process of preparing inter-village tourism policy is going on and it will be prepared by taking all stakeholders into confidence.
Khanute further said that these statistics are not available with the department, because the tourism department has no direct control over where the tourists who come to Goa. Therefore, it is impossible to present these statistics.canacoa , Sangume , Savordem Sattari, bicholim are the taluks which include rural areas. Therefore, for the development and growth of inter-village tourism, different places in these taluks are being considered, explained Tourism Minister Khante.
Bicholim Taluka has many things like Maruti Temple, the second largest Shivalinga in the state, Pandava Caves, Amthane Dam, the famous Gade Utsav. Dr. demanded that the tourism department should consider these things to promote rural tourism said shetye .
Khaunte also explained that the Government of Goa is working to create necessary facilities based on various schemes of the Center for the expansion of tourism in rural areas. When asked whether opposition party MLA Yuri Alemao has notified selected places for inter-village tourism while expanding tourism, Khanute said that for now we have emphasized on creating necessary facilities.
