South Goa Port Ready To Boost Cruise Tourism

Bhisham Mansukhani - Mumbai

Keen to tap the growing inbound cruise market, Goa Tourism has earmarked a South Goa port for the development to the extent that will make it capable to handle cruise ships docking with it. Sector 10, a bay located at the Mormogoa Port Trust is set to be upgraded with international class arrival and departure loungers and a duty free shopping centre, forex counter and restaurants. According to Travel and Tourism Association Of Goa (TTAG) president, Charlers Bonifacio, the facility should be ready to receive cruise liners by June. Bonifacios was addressing an audience comprising the national and international travel trade as well as media at the innaugaral edition of Travel World, India's biggest and only B2B travel trade event, part of Express World 2005.

"There are not many cruise companies that have been using Goa as a port of call. There were only eight cruise vessels that docked at Goa ports in 2004. Recently, Star Cruises have forged a tie up with SOTC as a result of which Star Cruises will have its ships dock in Goa. We had a meeting with the Chairman of MPT and he mentioned that MPT has infact earmarked a bay called Sector 10 at the Mormogoa Port Trust which will be upgraded with international class arrival and departure lounges and a duty free shopping centre, forex counter and restaurants. The MPT has assued us that the facility will be ready by June end. Star Cruises has also surveyed the area and met with the MPT chairman," Bonifacio revealed.

Summing up Goa Tourism's commitment to the industry as well as local economy, he emphasised, "The emphasis is on infrastructure development that benefits tourists and locals alike. From a mere four lakh budget two years ago, the government has increased the budget for tourism to Rs 31.46 crore! Today, we don't have a season in Goa. It is a perennial destination, prior to which there were efforts to create a parallel tourism season." Bonifacio also announced the government's plans to develop a hitherto absent golf tourism market. "An international consultancy company, Mckensie has been contracted for the development of a golf course in Berna, an 18-course golf course. Another golf course in South Goa is on the anvil and the land for the same has already been acquired," Bonifacio divulged.