GTDC to appoint consultant to oversee tourism village development scheme
After identifying five villages to be developed as tourism villages, the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has now initiated the process to appoint a consultant to oversee how the five villages can be used to promote sustainable rural tourism.
The Centre's tourism village development scheme aims to transform the select villages into model tourism destinations while providing economic opportunities to locals.
The five villages that have been shortlisted are Cotigao, Bandora, Sal, Chandor and Chorao. The department expects to spend a total of Rs 2.5 crore to create tourism infrastructure, with each village expected to receive Rs 50 lakh under the scheme.
In 2023, Cotigao was awarded the best tourism village of India, while in 2024, Bandora received the same award in the wellness category. Initially, Goltim-Navelim on Divar island, Chorao, Cotigao, Bandora, and Vere-Vaghurme were being considered to be developed as tourist villages.
The consultant will be responsible for the project from its conceptual design to on-ground execution. The consultant will be tasked with preparing a detailed project report and then obtaining necessary approvals from govt and local bodies for the project.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Learn More - How Affiliate Marketing Can Boost Your Income
smartdeal
Learn More
Undo
The state's tourism department hopes to channel tourists away from the coastline and towards the untapped tourism potential of Goan villages.
The department plans to set up kiosks for local artisans and farmers, upgrade market areas to meet tourism standards, build multi-utility halls for fairs and performances, bring in safety measures, and establish basic amenities such as tourist information counters with first aid facilities, seating areas, gazebos, and community waste bins.
The GTDC wants the consultant to assess the village's tourism potential, outline infrastructure needs, provide site analysis, and assist with statutory approvals.
Through this scheme, the tourism department wants to showcase Goa's rural heritage, diversify tourism-driven economic growth, and decongest the coastline. The move comes at a time when overcrowding at mainstream tourist hubs has raised concerns among locals and policymakers.
Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with
Friendship Day wishes
,
messages
and
quotes
!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Govt mulls life tax exemption for tourism caravan vehicles in AP
Vijayawada: The state govt is likely to give life tax exemption for tourism caravan vehicles to encourage their registration exclusively in Andhra Pradesh under the new 'caravan tourism policy' which is expected to be unveiled soon. Apparently, the life tax exemption would be provided to the first 10 or 20 caravans. According to the tourism department officials, the base variant of a caravan vehicle is pegged at around Rs 1 crore, while the cost of high-end models run into multiple crores depending on their specifications and bespoke customisations opted by the operators. "As per the existing life tax rates, i.e., five percent in AP, a caravan owner needs to pay Rs 5 lakh as life tax while registering the vehicle with the transport department. Accordingly, the tourism department believes the caravan operators can save an average of Rs 10 lakh on life tax, following their exemption, collected during the vehicle registration with the transport department," a senior tourism department official said. The official said that the decision aims to encourage more number of operators to register new caravan vehicles in state. "Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu launched a caravan vehicle at the tourism conclave organised recently by the tourism department. However, the caravan flagged off by the chief minister on a trial basis, belonging to the Hyderabad-based Luxe Caravans, was a Telangana-registered vehicle," the official mentioned. After rolling out the new policy, the govt aims to see caravans registered with the AP transport department plying on AP roads rather than those registered in the neighbouring states, he added. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
How travel turns strangers into friends
Friends just get you! Some grow up with you, others find their way to you on a road trip, a trek, or while waiting for hostel check-in. Think of Rani (played by Kangana Ranaut) in the movie Queen (2013), who stumbles into a friendship with Vijaylakshmi (Lisa Haydon) while wandering through Paris. Or the trio in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) (played by Hrithik Roshan, Abhay Deol, and Farhan Akhtar), who set off for an adventurous escape and return with deeper bonds and lighter hearts. On Friendship Day today, we speak to people who made lifelong friends through travel — because nothing forges bonds like an adventure away from home. Lisa Haydon and Kangana Ranaut in a still from the film Queen, in which their characters developed an unexpected friendship From trail mates to soul sisters Sharanya Munsi met Dilshad during a snow trek to Brahmatal in 2019. Dilshad, a fashion designer from Goa, was travelling with friends, while Sharanya—a seasoned solo trekker—was used to going it alone. Sharanya Munsi and Dilshad 'We instantly connected and stayed in touch through Instagram,' Sharanya recalls. A trail-side chat sparked a lasting friendship, deepened by shared pets, K-dramas, and long talks across cities. During COVID, Dilshad even designed Sharanya's bridal face masks. 'She's one of the first people I call when I need help with trip logistics,' Sharanya says. 'We may live far apart, but she's become a comfort and constant outside of my usual circles.' Travel companions for life In May 2019, Kanika Yadav from Faridabad travelled to Ladakh with childhood friend Shubham Dhupar, joined by his friend Rahul Grover and colleague Gagandeep Kaur, strangers to her then. The group calls themselves 'travel companions for life.' 'We were all at crossroads in our lives, and I had never met the other two before,' she recalls. But the mountains had plans of their own. On the trip, Kanika and Rahul bonded and stayed in touch abroad, turning friendship into love; they married in 2023. Meanwhile, Gagandeep and Shubham also grew close and tied the knot this February. 'Despite all the distance and change, one trip gave me my husband, brought my best friend his partner, and made us all each other's chosen people,' says Kanika. Today, the group calls themselves 'travel companions for life.' A birthday changed everything Shivani Relia (28), from Delhi, never expected her solo birthday trip to Udaipur in 2021 to lead to a lifelong friendship. Shivani Relia and Shruti Sharma She had checked into Zostel early and was waiting in the café when she struck up a conversation with Shruti Sharma (34) from Bangalore, who was also travelling solo. 'We just started talking, and everything clicked,' says Shivani. Four years later, they're still in touch and now planning a trip to the Rann of Kutch. 'Some friendships just feel easy from the start,' Shivani adds. Work trip turned to family Pamela Gupta (25) and Tejashee Kashyap (27), both from Delhi, worked in the same industry, but their paths only crossed during a work trip to Egypt. 'It started as the usual work dynamic, but it felt like we had known each other for years. We clicked instantly and began travelling together soon after,' recalls Pamela. Four countries later, their bond has only grown stronger. They've found a rhythm despite their contrasting personalities. 'We may not agree on everything, but that's the beauty of this friendship; we hold space for each other,' Pamela reflects. Today, even their mothers are close friends. She adds, We can't go a day without checking in. We're practically family now.'
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Bus bursts into flames at Merces
Panaji: A private tourist minibus caught fire at Merces, Panaji, on Saturday night on its way to Margao railway station. No casualties were reported in the incident. A fire official said they received a call at 2.13am about the fire, which was caused by an air conditioning issue that caused a spark in a tyre. 'The minibus caught fire quite a few hours earlier. There were passengers in the bus at that time,' said the official. He said the driver stopped the bus and asked passengers to get off after noticing it had caught fire, which quickly spread to the rest of the vehicle. 'They tried dousing the fire on their own, but failed. That is when we got the call,' he said. The official added that the bus was destroyed, with the exact cost of the damage still to be determined. The bus owner will visit the Panaji fire station to assess it, he said. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
