MARGAO
Colva played host to the Spirit of Goa festival as the three-day event got off with a bang the first time in South Goa, even as Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte took the platform to reassure tourism stakeholders that the government is investing in tourism infrastructure to ensure that Mopa, Vasco and Dabolim will go together to bring in quality tourists into the State.
Goa’s nightingale Lorna added a scintillating touch to the festivities as she belted a couple of popular Konkani songs.
Asserting that the BJP government believes in inclusive development, Tourism Minister further reassured that Saxtti will play host to festivals every year, saying tourism and festivals will take place in Saxtti and down South a la North Goa.
In his address, the Tourism Minister recalled their fears in many quarters that Dabolim may shut down after the commissioning of Mopa. “Not only Mopa and Dabolim will co-exist, but we are launching nautical tourism in Vasco. We have tied up with the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) to bring more ships to the Port town from next year. We are investing in tourism to ensure that Mopa, Dabolim and Vasco will get in more and quality tourists to the state,” he said.
Saying that Old Goa Churches will be taken up for rejuvenation under spiritual tourism at Rs 40 crore, Khaunte said the master plan for Canacona is ready and plans are afoot to prepare a similar plan for Quepem.
“For the point of tourism, it is significant that we have come down to South with the Spirit of Festival. There was a demand from Saxtti MLAs, including Venzy Viegas, Aleixo Sequeira, Digambar Kamat and Reginaldo Lourenco that a festival is held in South Goa. This is just the beginning. You will find many festivals in Saxtti and down South in the future,” he said, adding: “The people of South Goa would feel that they are as important as before and would bring in them a sense of inclusiveness like in the past.”
He further said the government is trying to create tourism verticals, including wellness, adventure, sun, sea and sand, besides eco-tourism and hinterland tourism in the coming year.
Union Tourism Minister Sripad Naik complimented Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte for revising the Spirit of Goa festival. “Goans are filled with spirit and to awaken this spirit, we need such festivals. We have to take the spirit and increase the level of spirit,” he said.
The Union Minister assured full support to Goa to implement new tourism schemes in the State, promising full support to Tourism Minister Khaunte to give a further boost to tourism, including hinterland tourism.
Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas made a fervent pleat to the Tourism Minister to make Colva a permanent venue of the Spirit of Goa festival.
MLAs Digambar Kamat, Alexio Sequeira, Reginaldo Lourenco, Tourism Director, Sunil, besides Colva sarpanch Suzie Fernandes addressed the gathering.
