Tourism Minister Shri Rohan Khaunte reiterating Government’s commitment to nurture and promote state unique identity Beaches, heritage sites, and cultural diversity to attract all visitors emphasized that the Government has taken initiatives to promote Goa beyond beaches – spiritual tourism, eco, hinterland, adventure, yoga, wellness and Agro tourism to attract quantity and quality tourists in the state. Tourism is not an industry for us, it’s a way of our life Generating 35% of employment contributing 17% in state GDP, he said.
The Tourism Minister was speaking after hoisting the national tricolor to mark India’s 77th Independence Day at Mapusa today. Shri Khaunte extended his wishes on 76th Independence Day and said that we need to remember the martyrs who sacrificed for our freedom.
The Tourism Minister stressing on the importance of tourism appealed to the people to maintain peace and harmony in the State. He said Goa is a place of unity in diversity which is important for tourism. Government is promoting spiritual, traditional, cultural tourism and festivals in Goa to attract tourists. Government celebrated Carnival, Shigmotsav and recently celebrated Chikhal Kalo and San Joao through the Tourism Department. This will help our youth and new generation to know our culture, tradition and festivals of Goa. Tourists work out their schedules to enjoy various diversities in Goa throughout the year. Tourists will prefer Goa as a Tourist destination in many ways more than beaches, he informed.
Highlighting the sacrifice made by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj towards preserving Temples in Goa during Portuguese regime he said that the Tourism Department will support to celebrate Shivjayanti in five major Cities in Goa i.e. Panaji, Mapusa, Margao, Vasco and Ponda.
Highlighting the various initiatives launched by double engine Sarkar, the Minister maintained that people will benefit largely with the launching of Gramin Mitra and upcoming Unity Mall in the State to support local artisans and their traditional art. Government has started 179 online services through the online portal to facilitate online services for the people. Government is also starting a citizen service centre for those people who are not getting online services. He emphasized that the Government has launched Gramin Mitra through which services will be made available at the doorsteps of the people. Gramin Mitra will provide all those available services on the online portal at the doorstep of the people.
On his arrival, Tourism Minister was received by Additional Collector Shri Pundalik Khorjuvenkar and Dy. SP Shri Jivba Dalvi.
He received guard of honour and inspected parade and March past presented by contingents of Police and students of various schools from Mapusa.
Minister also felicitated Shri Satyawan Damodar Satardekar, Shri Joel Rodrigues, Shri Gunjan Pankaj Prabhu Narvekar, Ms Geetanjali Nagvekar, Mr Ashlam Babajan, Ms Kajal Ashok Jadhav, Shri Vinayak Ramnath Mayekar, Mr Domnic Colaco, Shri Chandrakant Vaman Palyekar, Shri Shivaji Namdev Gad, Shri Hector R. Trinidade, Miss Pearl Colvalcar, Mr Yurico Dias, for achieving success in their respective field.
