Goa eyes luxury trains, cruise terminals
India’s new minister of tourism, Shripad Naik, has wasted no time getting to grips with his portfolio.
Goa is expected to be a major beneficiary of fast-track tourism development plans with the minister proposing luxury trains, on the lines of the Palace of Wheels, between Goa and Mumbai.
The minister has also called for promotion of the forthcoming exposition of the relics of Spanish missionary St Francis Xavier as a religious tourism event, and will send an invitation to the event to Pope Francis.
The exposition of the relics of St Xavier – held every 10 years – will take place November-December this year in Old Goa.
Other proposals are for a cruise terminal, e-visas and increasing access to visas on arrival.
Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar told a tourism task force meeting that the state would promote hinterland, heritage, medical, event and sports tourism.
However, the chief minister revealed that plans for a convention and exhibition centre would be deferred.
The central government has backed the state in a bid to shift offshore casino vessels out of waters around Goa and also ban the entry of the local population to the casinos.
The state has five offshore casino vessels which are currently anchored in the Mandovi river near Panaji.
Ian Jarrett
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