Govt needs to complete works including linear projects, feel tourism stakeholders

NT NETWORK

Panaji

The tourism stakeholders have stated that the government has to complete all its ongoing infrastructural projects in the state, including the three linear projects, in a time-bound manner by taking the people into confidence, as also the people should understand that such projects are required for further developing the tourism sector in Goa.

The managing director of Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), Nikhil Desai stated that sustainable development is the need of the day. “The need for more power and wider roads will never go down and these things would be extremely necessary in the future,” he said, adding that requirement of the power for the state will rise with more houses and more industries being set up, as also increase in the number of electric vehicles requiring efficient transmission of electricity.

“The same goes for new as well as wider roads, which are not only required for tourism but also for locals to bring in edible and other goods,” the GTDC managing director observed, opining that all these should be achieved by striking a balance with the nature, and employing mitigating measures to protect flora and fauna. “Entirely opposing the infrastructural projects is no logic at all,” he noted.

According to KPMG-GTDC report ‘Coping with COVID-19 : Survival and Revival of Goa’s Tourism Industry’, the state tourism industry has suffered an estimated loss in the range of Rs 2,000 crore to Rs 7,200 crore during the lockdown, with potential job losses of 35 per cent to 58 per cent. The tourism industry’s contribution is estimated to be around 16 per cent of the nominal state GDP, with approximately 35 per cent of state’s population involved in direct jobs in this sector.

For a state that is predominantly dependent on the tourism industry for livelihood of its people, these statistics are alarming and clearly brings out the need for Goa to create alternative, sustainable livelihood sources of income for its people.

The president of Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), Nilesh Shah said that mega projects such as the new Zuari bridge and Mopa airport, as also the three linear projects would certainly give a boost to the state tourism industry.

“However, these projects need to be completed and commissioned in a time bound manner,” he added, pointing out that a part of the Atal Setu on the Panaji side is still awaiting its completion, which is just unacceptable.

Speaking further, the TTAG president said that concepts like eco-tourism and hinterland tourism look good on paper, however, their implementation needs the support of the locals. “Therefore, the government should take the locals into confidence and seek public participation for such concepts,” he added, maintaining that the people too should understand that the government just cannot create jobs out of thin air, and have to support infrastructural projects.

Goa needs to improve its infrastructure to create alternatives to tourism, for sustainable livelihood creation. In addition, if industrialisation has to develop further, the most important factor would be creation of an enabling environment beyond the present ecosystem. Enhancing existing as well as creating new infrastructure is important, with three new projects that is double-tracking of railway lines, the Tanmar transmission line project and the expansion of highways being key to improving industrialisation in the state.

While improving the power scenario is extremely critical for development of industries, connectivity enhancement through double-tracking and expansion of highways is equally important. Movement of men and material is the most critical element in development of industry, which in turn helps in creating alternative livelihoods for locals.

The president of Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industries (GCCI), Manoj Caculo said that the Tanmar transmission line project is a basic necessity for Goa as it will take care of state’s peak time power requirement.

“The road network expansion as well as the new Zuari bridge would be largely beneficial to the tourists travelling to Goa, while Mopa airport will ensure increase in the number of international flights arriving in the state, in the post-COVID times,” he added.