Tag Archives: Goa Tourism Development Corporation

Goa has been ranked third in the list of top five states in tourism as per the 5th biennial Hotelivate State Ranking Survey for Tourism in association with the World Travel and Tourism Council-India Initiative (WTTC-II). While Delhi and Maharashtra occupy the top two places, Goa stands third followed by Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. The survey   which looked  at states from the hospitality industry’s standpoint considered 11 parameters  namely, state expenditure on tourism, number of tourist visits, number of branded hotel rooms, GSDP per capital, literacy, aircraft movement, ease of doing business, urbanization, road and rail network, marketing campaigns and some intangible aspects. Manohar Ajgaonkar, Minister for Tourism, Goa, said, “Goa Tourism is in the spotlight again for achieving success in various tourism parameters. It should be our endeavour to get to the top and work on improving in those parameters where we are lagging behind so as to attract more tourists to Goa.” Nilesh Cabral, Chairman, Goa Tourism Development Corporation, said, “It has always been the endeavour of the Goa Tourism Development Corporation to work with various segments of tourism whether infrastructure, accommodation, tourism activities, tourism related development and so on.”

Goa has appointed a new tourism minister Manohar Azgaonkar. Under his leadership, Goa Tourism is planning to introduce new initiatives and infrastructure projects, promote the diverse cultures of the state and focus on improving all its products and services. Azgaonkar has travelled extensively and is set to infuse new concepts and ideas into the tourism sector here in Goa. In another development, Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has re-appointed Nilesh Cabral as Chairman. He is the current MLA of Curchorem Taluka. Under his leadership, GTDC has taken huge strides and given a new dimension to Goa Tourism. In his previous stint as Chairman of GTDC, the corporation achieved several milestones i.e the GTDC became a profit making corporation, introduced new and attractive activities and initiatives, formed a (Special Purpose Vehicle) SPV cell to expedite tourism infrastructure projects, procured funding from Central Govt. schemes and has lined up new project for construction and commissioning in the next two to three years.

Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has brought all tourism business’ under the ambit of cashless transactions. Whether hotel reservations, package tours, cruise rides or any other tourism service, GTDC has introduced systems that have facilitated cashless transactions, both on-line and off-line. Cashless facility is made possible by GTDC through online portal, booking of services and products through mobile app on iOS and android platform at GTDC residencies and restaurants through point-of-sale machines thus enabling a 360-degree approach to the new cashless system. GTDC is also working  to introduce  pay wallets and  talks are  underway  with  leading pay wallet  providers so that  pay wallets can be accepted  as another mode of   cashless payments. The Santa Monica Jetty also offers payments through credit cards and debit cards. Nilesh Cabral, Chairman of Goa Tourism Development Corporation said, “To further this  process,  the launch of  the  new e-commerce portal and mobile app  in February this year has  provided  a fool-proof platform for e-business and cashless transactions  also bringing  other tourism stakeholders into the cashless circuit. Official records from the  GTDC reveal that  cashless transactions  to the tune  of Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh are executed daily for various  services provided by the GTDC which  is in addition to  cashless  transactions recorded on GTDC’s e-commerce portal and mobile app.” Gavin Dias,  General Manager (Hotels), GTDC said,  “All GTDC residencies are provided with point-of-sale (POS) machines to facilitate cashless payments and most tourists prefer to use this facility. It is encouraging to see tourists opting for cashless transactions.” He pointed out that  in addition to  cashless business for  GTDC’s hotel accommodation,  GTDC through the e-commerce portal has direct tie ups with  more than  160 …

The Vintage Bike and Car festival 2016 is set to be an annual event as the first edition of the event organised by Goa Tourism and Goa Tourism Development Corporation concluded in Panjim. A record participation of 83 vintage cars and 40 vintage bikes set the streets of the capital city roaring as the vintage automobiles made their way down memory lanes on a two-hour long rally. Minister for Tourism, Dilip Parulekar flagged off the rally at Paryatan Bhavan this morning in the presence of Nilesh Cabral, Chairman  of  GTDC and other dignitaries and officials. Parulekar said, “It is overwhelming to see such a huge participation at the Vintgae Bike and Car festival 2016 and should be an annual event that will boost tourism in the State of Goa. Goa Tourism and GTDC organise such unique events in the State to promote tourism and the Vintage Bike and Car festival will help boost heritage tourism in a big way.”

The third edition of West India Travel Awards felicitated achievers in the travel and tourism industry of the region during a glittering ceremony held at Novotel Pune Nagar Road on August 5, 2016. The opening ceremony was graced by the presence of Taware Pandurang, Founder/President, Agri Tourism Development Company,  Dattaram Sawant, General Manager, Finance, Goa Tourism Development Corporation and Saudamini Naik, Gladrags Mrs. India. The who’s who of the travel industry from West India attended at the event. The West India Travel Awards salutes the best in the industry and awardees are selected based on a non-biased system of voting.

Indian Ambassadors to Croatia, Iceland and Israel have extended an invitation to Goa to promote its tourism products in their respective countries. Welcoming  the  initiatives  for  an exchange  of tourism ties between  Goa  and Croatia,  Iceland and Israel, Chairman of Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), Nilesh Cabral, spoke about Goa’s new tourism  initiatives  recently launched by GTDC. He also impressed on Goa Tourism’s efforts made to augment tourism infrastructure, safety measures and hygiene for tourists visiting Goa. Cabral said, “We would also  like travel and tour operators  from Croatia,  Iceland and  Israel to visit Goa to witness and experience the various tourism facets so that they go back and  enthuse their nationals to visit this State. Goa is now a 365 day tourist destination. We have recently launched a new interactive Website and Mobile App which enables tourists to access information on Goa and plan their vacations accordingly at the click of a button.” Representatives from the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) were also present for the interaction session where several suggestions and ideas were shared on promoting tourism and cultural ties between Goa and the three countries. Insights were also given into monsoon tourism and night life in Goa.

The Central Jail in Aguada, Goa’s largest prison dating back to the Portuguese rule, is being converted into a jail museum. The project with a budget of Rs 25.8 crore aims at restoring its heritage. Since May 30, 2015, this prison no longer houses inmates who have now been shifted to the new jail at Colvale. Work for Goa Tourism Development Corporation’s mega project to convert the old Central Jail into a museum is already underway and the Corporation has involved both the Goa Heritage Action Group (GHAG) and Goa’s freedom fighters. A joint meeting and site inspection has been carried out where project plans were placed across the table and GTDC solicited views and suggestions from GHAG and the freedom fighters. Nilesh Cabral, Chairman, Goa Tourism Development Corporation said, “The old Central Jail is well known not only as a prison but for its history and heritage. Now a vacant structure, GTDC has requested the government to make it a tourist spot and the Corporation has started working on a project that will preserve the heritage structure and showcase Goa’s freedom struggle.”

The Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has introduced helicopter joy rides from Park Hyatt to Arossim in South Goa from Sunday. The GTDC and Pawan Hans joint venture saw as many as 75 passengers on day one. Chairman of GTDC, Nilesh Cabral said, “We  now have helicopter rides and hot air balloons which will serve as a huge attraction for tourists  to Goa. There is a lot more to come in the months ahead and we are optimistic that all these new initiatives will go a  long way in putting Goa on the map for  world class adventure and leisure  tourism.”

Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) website will be made into an online booking portal to allow tour operators and tourists to sell and book packages to Goa at discounted rates. Private tour operators will be provided a login ID which will allow them to load their packages into the system and sell them based on commission rates, built into the portal. “We will be the first tourism board to launch such a service. A tourist can combine various activities with the packages like hot air balloon ride, paragliding, bungee jumping amongst other new products on the website, making Goa a 365-day destination. Even though we own the new product offerings, the services will be offered by the private sector where we will only be the facilitator and hand hold them for proper delivery,” said Nikhil Desai, Managing Director, GTDC. Goa Tourism is expecting at least 400,000 tourists to visit the state over three days during Goa Carnaval from February 6-9, 2016, Desai said during a press conference in New Delhi. Dilip Parulekar, Goa Tourism Minister, was also present. Parulekar said, “Goa Carnaval is one-of-a-kind event and people come from all over the globe. While the spirit of this celebration is contagious, we have taken into account aspects of safety, security and cleanliness which will ensure that the celebration is a truly memorable one.”

Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) in association with Goa Tourism Development  Corporation (GTDC) will have a special carnival charter coach from Mumbai during Goa Carnival with a GTDC tour package specially designed for passengers between February 6-9, 2016. This is part of the joint venture between the GTDC and the IRCTC to promote holiday special trains after the Railways Ministry approved the running of special holiday trains to Goa, and an MoU was signed between the two organisations. Bookings for travel on this train are online only. Passengers buying this package will get an opportunity to enjoy the four-day carnival. The Goa Carnival package of five nights and six days will include Standard Comfort and Deluxe priced between Rs 7,695 and 17,395 per pax.