Goa’s hospitality industry though rides on coastal tourism and casinos have hogged the limelight in the last few years, Goa tourism policy 2020 aims to change that perception by promoting eco-tourism, cultural and heritage tourism.

The policy talks about encouraging tourists to visit villages and explore the traditional Goan houses. The yet-to-be-formed Goa tourism board will designate villages conducive for development as “tourism villages”. The applicable standards for receiving the designation of tourism village will be defined so that villages can compete for the same in a transparent manner.

Moving in that direction, the Goa government recently notified the “tourist villages development scheme” under which financial support of Rs 50 lakh will be given to villages every year. The scheme aims to promote rural life, art and culture and heritage.

While the government has been talking about showcasing hinterlands of the state for many years, after the tourism policy was notified a year ago, forming the scheme has been the first tangible step in that direction.

Goa has a rich cultural heritage, and post-Diwali most villages have zatras, but except a few big zatras and feasts, other cultural celebrations of the state have not been showcased to the outside. However, some foreign tourists who stay put in Pernem taluka do attend zatras and feasts.

The policy also talks about having ecologically sustainable and environmentally sound practices in the development of nature-based tourism. Developing high-quality facilities in protected areas to increase the number and stay-duration of high-end visitors is also something that finds mention in the policy.

The major aspects of the tourism policy will see the light of day after the tourism board is constituted. The composition of the board was finalised a while ago, but an order appointing the board is awaited.

Source: The Times of India ( https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/tourism-policy-shifts-focus-to-states-culture-heritage/articleshow/86541735.cms )