The Sorry State of Dabolim Airport. Just one example: Luggage Trolleys- When pushed left it goes right, when pushed straight it goes sideways- WELCOME TO GOA.
'First impression counts ? All trolleys should go to scrapyard. Top business houses like 5* hotels should come together to sponser (as it is done all over the world) From Today's Navhind Times by Abdul Rauf Beig Panaji Sept 22: Ever since the authorities decided that Goa should be the permanent venue for holding the International Film Festival of India, the tourism industry in the state is upbeat, and is seeing this as an event to further promote the state as a touristic destination with world class facilities. Many in the industry feel that infrastructure that would be built to hold the film festival here would provide the industry additional facilities, which are expected to be unique and among the best in the world, and would help attract top class tourists and reap the benefits thereof. The tourism industry people, however, want the state government to take initiative to build a convention centre at a centrally located place and also impress upon the central authorities on the need to have such a facility in the state as it would give multiplying results to the tourism industry. According to industry people, since the event is a high profile one with lot of hype and glamour, Goa would be the beneficiary of the worldwide publicity that is normally attached to such events, as normally festivals are named after the places that host the events and help their promotion directly. Those in tourism industry also feel that the multiplexes, theatres, and convention centre that would be built here to host the film festival should be put to use and not to leave them lie idle and daily events like stage shows depicting Goan and Indian history, on line with those done in Malaysia and Singapore, could be held. Holding of such events daily, coupled with daily musical and theatrical shows, exhibition of local crafts, would provide wholesome entertainment to the tourists which would help to maintain them and also earn revenue. These would also help artisans to exhibit their artistic skills, say the tourism people. Mr Ralph D’Souza, group chairman of D’Souza group of hotels, said that the state should encash the returns from media coverage attached to such events. He said that the state would benefit directly from the event and it would add to its economic progress. Besides, it would help the state add new attractions to its existing infrastructure. He also said that state could also derive incremental benefits from the event, like in the case of facilities created during Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) retreat in early 1980s. The event would prompt the state to upgrade the existing facilities. Mr D’Souza further said that infrastructure set up for the event could be used for holding regional film festival and other such festivals alongwith theatre festival and exhibition of other forms of performing art. This would help the authorities not only upkeep the facilities but also bring down overhead costs and soar profits. The director of tourism, Mr N Suryanarayana, feels that holding of the film festival in Goa would introduce Goa to a newer class of people and help it more tourists than before and also help it in fortifying its economy. Besides, potential investors would be attracted to set up their projects here in the film of tourism, etc, for which there was vast potential. He feels that a convention centre was a must alongwith multiplexes and theatres and would be an added advantage and provide biggest boost for promotion of tourism. He further said that Goa has been participating in tourism mart at other places where convention centres were existing but has not been able to host any such event in absence of a convention centre. Mr Suryanarayana said that so far Goa has spent over Rs 3 crore by participating in tourism promotion events hosted by others and a convention centre would help it to host events such as Travel and Tourism Fair, Travel and Tourism Exposition, South Asian Travel and Tourism Exposition, IATA meet and PATA convention. A convention centre, he said, would give the state much more returns as more and more people would come to the state for holding bigger conventions, if a facility was available here, adding further that Goa has already earned a name for itself among many business houses and industries and that 700-odd conventions were already held here last year. “It is time that we recover our investments,” he said. Mr Suryanarayana, however, wants that authorities should make all efforts to make the inaugural show a success, providing best facilities and attractions, so that the first impression of the visitors and participants should be their best impression, prompting them to come here again and again. The tourism industry, however, wants the authorities to draw a calendar of events that they propose to hold in the state apart from the film festival so that proper arrangements could be made by them in advance to provide better facilities and amenities to the people who visit the state. ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################