Panjim,24 September:  Days ahead of  World Tourism  Day, Hon’ble  Chairman  of Goa Tourism Development  Corporation, Mr. Nilesh Cabral  impressed on  Botany students of Goa University to  cultivate greater  knowledge of  Goa’s rich and vast bio-diversity and to  be part of  tourism sustainability  for the growth and betterment  of tourism in Goa.

Mr. Cabral, recently interacting with Botany (eco-tourism) students at the GU said, “Goa’s forestry is higher than the national average with bio-diversity sites which are the most beautiful. Today visitors from urban India including foreign tourists throng to Goa to explore and experience this unique facet and you as young students can utilize this avenue to further your prospects in the tourism sector.”

Emphasizing  on the  theme  of  Sustainable Tourism:  a tool for development, Mr. Cabral   detailed the various goals enlisted by United National General Assembly,   which he said would need  to be  achieved by putting  one’s whole self into it and  taking on the challenges  with  a vision.”

The GTDC Chairman explained to the young audience the challenges faced by the tourism corporation while adding new avenues for developing tourism adventure activities. He said, “The journey is tough but if you work with your conscience and mind no obstacle is difficult to overcome.”

He explained  to the  young Botany students  the  various  employment  opportunities that  their  subject has to offer  in the tourism sector, especially  eco-tourism and hinterland  tourism.

He also impressed on the students to be creative, ideate on new tourism projects revolving around sustainability and to be enterprising and self employed in different ways.

He said that the Goa Tourism Development Corporation is looking for innovation and has also associated with young entrepreneurs in several tourism activities.

During the two hour interaction session at Goa University, Mr. Cabral responded to various queries from the Botany students and further encouraged them to pursue careers in tourism as a tool for sustainability and developing the future of tourism as an industry in Goa.

the entire session was co-ordinated by Dr. Nandakumar Kamat.

Panjim, September 24: Goa Tourism participated in the 23^rd International Trade Fair for Travel & Tourism Forum at OTDYKH 2017 in Moscow from September 19-21, 2017. Mr. Manohar Ajgaonkar, Minister for Tourism, Govt of Goa attended this International event along with officials from Dept of Tourism and Goa Tourism Development Corporation.

While attending the event at Moscow, Mr. Manohar Ajgaonkar, Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Govt of Goa said “Goa Tourism received an overwhelming response from International delegates attending the OTDYKH and tourism travel and trade operators who assembled in Moscow from across the globe. Over 300 Travel Trade members visited our pavilion and several charter companies requested for policies to grant more parking berths at the Goa International airport to increase tourist arrivals. There has been a significant rise in Russian tourist arrivals to Goa and is directly related to the promotion campaigns that the Ministry of Tourism is conducting through its participation in International events.”

Year after year, Goa Tourism showcases its new initiatives and activities at international tourism events and this year too, Goa Tourism took this opportunity to promote its unique facilities and facets to people from across the globe.

There has been a significant increase in Russian tourist arrivals to Goa with a 55% increase in 2016 against 33% in 2012. Goa received as many as 3, 76,957 Russian tourists in the year 2016 alone. Goa, which is popular among travellers in the western countries, attracted 614 chartered flights during the tourist season lasting from October 2016 to May 2017. These flights brought 1, 60,728 lakh Russian tourists to Goa.

Goa Tourism had put up an attractive pavilion showcasing Goan traditions, heritage and all its tourism attractions. Besides the travel and trade visitors from Moscow, the Goa Tourism pavilion also welcomed a delegation of Regional Travel Trade from around Russia.

Several b2b sessions were also conducted giving travel and tour operators an insight into Goa’s new portfolios and new attractions in the state.

 Panaji, September 23, 2017 …. Minister for Agriculture Shri Vijay Sardesai exhorted the student aspirants of the agriculture   and horticulture course to pursue their studies with commitment and determination and complete the same successfully. He further mentioned that they should acquire conceptual knowledge of agriculture so as to guide our local farmers thus led their  knowledge to boost agriculture in the state.

Shri Sardesai was speaking as Chief guest at a function organized by the Directorate of Agriculture at Secretariat today to distribute letters of admission to the students who are aspired to pursue their agriculture and horticulture course   at Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Krishi Vidhyapith Dapoli of  of Ratnagiri district in  Maharashtra.

The Government strived and succeeded in increasing the usual quota of the student from 9 to 17. at the aforesaid agricultural University.  So hereafter 17 students from the state desirous  to study agriculture would be admitted. The  students who study there would be paid stipend of Rs.3000/- per month. The Minister handed over letters to eight students on this occasion.

 Shri Sardesai further speaking said that agriculture is pampered profession in Goa. The Government has implemented various schemes to help to double the income of farmers. The Government he said intends to bring a legislation to promote contract farming so as to bring Communidade lands under agriculture. He said apart from usual crops floriculture can be tried as it has vast demand whereas organic farming has brand value and glamour for which Government would provide support he added.

Shri Sardesai further also said that Government intends to become self reliant in agriculture production. Therefore he suggested the students to support the endeavor of the Government by starting their practice after completion of their course.

Shri Nelson Figueredo Asst Director, Students and their parents and staff of the Agriculture Department were among those who attended the function. .

Shri U.B.Pai Kakode, Director of the Department of Agriculture welcomed the guests. Shri Sandip Phaldesai Asst. Director  compered the function.         

panaji .. 21/09/2017 … Selection Trials for Men’s Under-23 will be held on Friday, 22^nd  September’ 2017 at 2.30 p.m  at  Goa Cricket Academy, Porvorim ,Goa .The trials are for the selection of Goa Under-23 Men’s team.

All the players born on or after 01/09/1994 are eligible for trials. All players have to carry their Original Birth Certificate for the selection. All the players have to report Mr.Collin Rodrigues.

PANAJI, SEPTEMBER 20, 2017 … The Chief Minister, Shri Manohar Parrikar today launched in Panaji the internship and apprenticeship programme organised by the Directorate of Technical Education and GCCI(Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry)-Education Committee for engineering graduate students.

Emphasising on the importance of timing an internship programme, Shri Parrikar said that internship should be slotted during the actual course of learning for it to become effective instead of scheduling it at the end of the course.

Shri Parrikar further spoke of how a good engineer is able to strategise effective solutions to problems and technicalities that arise.

The Vice-Chancellor of Goa University, Prof Varun Sahni said that the link between the world of learning and the world of work has to periodically re-examined, re-designed and re-engineered. He spoke of how institutions should keep a balance between the knowledge component and skill component and not just stress on the former. He reminded the gathering that in today’s global scenario, it is not about rewarding individuals for what they know but for what they can do with what they know.

Secretary (Finance), Shri Daulat Hawaldar IAS rued how the emphasis on understanding and learning concepts had diminished over the years while the emphasis on coaching classes and entrances exams had increased. He said that success currently is being measured in terms of placement and the package one gets and therefore there is a need to bring the focus on acquisition of skill, knowledge and learning.

Shri P H Sawant, the Chairperson of the Board of Apprenticeship Training; Western Region informed that the percentage of lady apprentices in Goa was greater in comparison to the percentage in the other states in India. He added that besides learning professional skills, one should also acquire skills in communication, leadership and administration.

Director of Technical Education, Shri Vivek Kamat and representative of GCCI, Shri Sandip Bhandare also shed light on the subject of apprenticeship.

Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly, Shri Pramod Sawant, MLA, Shri Subhash Shirodkar, students, faculty and members from various industries in Goa were present on the occasion.

Panjim, Sept 19: As the river waters in the Mhadei have rejuvenated following heavy rainfall in the State, GTDC’s white water rafting activity will resume once again from Thursday, 21^st September 2017.

Heavy rainfall during the last 48 hours has revived the Mhadei river waters and the rise in the levels  has been found conducive for rafting activities at least for the  next 10 days or until the  Dussehra holidays. GTDC is expecting a huge influx of tourists to the State for the Navratri and Dussehra celebrations followed by the long and extended weekend until 2nd October 2017.

The rafting activity will operate as usual with two trips a day and bookings can be done through regular channels.

A senior official of GTDC said, “The resumption of white water rafting activity will increase the frequency of guests to higher than last year.” The rafting activity had taken a break on account of change in weather conditions and drop in water levels in river Mhadei. “Tourists have got one more opportunity to enjoy the adventure activity during this monsoon season,” the official said.

The trips will be conducted at 9.30 am and 2.30 pm.

Tourists, locals and all those interested in experiencing white water rafting will have to assemble at The Earthen Pot Restaurant, Sayed Nagar, Valpoi, Sattari, from where a 25 minute drive  and thereafter a 10 minute walk into the Mhadei river valley will lead to the rafting  site.

For bookings and more information, kindly contact: 9623451758, or book via www.goa-tourism.com,http://www.goarafting.com/.