Panaji: Far from the sun, sea, and sand that tourism in identical cave, the current plan is underway to explore the potential of tourism in the country’s villages.
A senior government official said that the Ministry of Tourism had prepared a scheme about this, and sent it to the minister of chairman for the final approval.
Through this scheme, the department will invite proposals from Panchayats to develop tourism infrastructure in their village.
The department will then appoint an experienced tour operator to explore village tourism potential.
“Once we get the application of Panchayat, tour operators will visit the village and find out if there is a potential to develop the village for tourism, and a report will be submitted to the department,” the official said.
Then, based on the report, the Department will be Gapfund to develop tourism infrastructure, including toilets.
Officers emphasized that in developing infrastructure, the department would see that the village heritage was not affected, and that there were no high buildings permitted.
“Local residents will be encouraged to develop homestays in villages,” said officers, added that this would be called sustainable tourism.
He said that there were many tribal villages in the state, and they had different festivals that could be exhibited to tourists if the villages were developed for tourism.
The official said that the government would bind experienced tour operators because they knew exactly what tourists wanted, and those who would get tourists to the villages.
Because tourists want to explore new places in Goa, this scheme will help promote interior tourism, he said.
“After the Minister of Chief agreed to the scheme, it will soon be notified in the official sheet for implementation,” he said.
Until now, village tourism has not been given too important.
Officials believe this scheme will change it, and also help villagers get jobs and generate income.
This scheme may also have stalls where villagers can sell local products.
Because of the Pandemic Covid-19, tourism slowed in Goa, and recently began to take it.
Recently, the High Court allowed the state to let visitors who had received vaccine doses.
Those who have not had to produce a negative RT-PCR certificate.