'Excess migration threat to system'

TIMES NEWS NETWORK, TNN, Oct 18, 2010, 06.26am IST


PANAJI: Protecting the state's native population from being overwhelmed by migration versus bringing in investment opportunities for tourism related business' was the topic of discussion at the ITM-Goa 2010.

Participating in the discussion were Dilip Puri, chief executive officer (CEO), Duet India Hotels; P R Srinivas, senior consultant, Deloitte India; Nitin Kunkolienkar, former chairman of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Goa Tourism Development Corporation managing director Nikhil Desai and Vijay Thacker, director, Horwath HTL India, who moderated the discussion on Saturday evening.

The tourism industry experts discussed ways and means to increase investment opportunities in Goa during a discussion on 'Goa Tourism - Investment Opportunities'.

The panel felt that the creation of high-end infrastructure is the only way to attract big spending tourists from the global tourism circuits.

Says Thacker: "Goa does not have any options in place to attract the high spending tourists. There is a need for construction of a golf course or high end hotels to cater to their needs."

Thacker also said that Goa needs a fresh infusion of hotel rooms to beef up its tourism sector. "Goa needs to add at least 10,000 rooms in addition to the present capacity, as this will increase the revenues earned by tourism by 5,000 crore over a short period of time," he said, adding that the government should also think about strengthening the services sector in addition to the focussed thrust on leisure.

P R Srinivas said that Goa needs to build the kind of infrastructure essential to tourists, who are being lured by the beaches of Sri Lanka. "Goa needs to plan according to its future. A lot of tourism is going to Sri Lanka, Seychelles and Mauritius. Goa needs to create enough infrastructure to tap these tourists," he said.

Dilip Puri said that Goa must explore options for sustainable tourism "Goa is one of the most attractive tourism destinations. It has to ensure that it chooses the sustainable tourism route," he said.

Nitin Kuncolienkar, however, said that the biggest challenge before Goa, is to handle the migration issue which has become the bone of contention as far as the identity of the state is concerned. "The issue of excess migration into Goa is a threat to our system. It is a perceived threat. Nearly all the agitations in Goa in recent times have stemmed from the issue of in-migration," Kuncolienkar said. The former GCCI chairman also said that the industry cannot not afford to ignore civil society's voice on social issues.

According to the organisers, over 200 national and international buyers, travel and trade industry honchos and tourism board members descended onto the shores of the coastal state. ITM-Goa which aims to boost tourism related business in the state is jointly promoted by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) and the state department of tourism, India Tourism, Travel & Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) and Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI).

Over 75 participants have showcased their services and networked with industry associates over the last four days. Organisers say that ITM-Goa 2010 has confirmed participation of buyers from over twelve countries including Singapore, South Africa, Canada, UK, Italy, Poland, Russia, UAE, Thailand and Brazil among others.

Tourism bodies like the Indian Association of Tour Operators, Travel Agents Association of India, the Travel Agents Federation of India and the Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India, have also participated in the event.