WORLD CLASS GOLF COURSE GOING TO BE A REALITY IN GOA SOON

PANJIM: In what could be described as a major decision to bolster the tourism sector and retain its competitive edge over others, the tourism department would soon invite expressions of interest (EoIs) from among the large land holders in the private sector for allowing their land for setting up of an international standard golf course in the state.

The golf course project would be one of the two projects for which the central government has already given its consent, the other being setting up of international size convention centre, informed tourism director, Mr Swapnil Naik. The project would be implemented under public private partnership.

The golf course project would be set up under large revenue generation scheme of the Union government for which a subsidy of up to 50 crore could be availed. The state government would identify the private partners and then approach the central government for going ahead with the project. The land required for the project is around 250 acres.

Mr Naik also informed that if two or more private land holders come forward to give their land for setting up the golf course then the state government could even go ahead with the idea of setting up two golf courses in the state, one each in either of the district.

Meanwhile, the former president of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa, Mr Ralph de Souza has said that Goa needed an international standard golf course. He also said that new golf courses set up nowadays consume much less water as they are set up using new methodology under which very little water is used for sprinkling on the green surfaces around putting and teeing areas. He further said that among the new infrastructure needed in the state were a golf course and a convention centre, which would help the tourism industry in the state to not only lure high-spending tourists but also retain its competitive edge.

Mr S V Balaram, a former top executive of a hotel in South Goa and now working as a consultant, said that golf courses nowadays do not use huge quantities of water and added that there should not be fear among people about water problem. He said that at least one golf course was necessary in the state for the benefit of the tourism industry.

The tourism director also informed that Goa stall at the World Travel Market in London attracted a large number of people from different parts of the world including former West Indies cricket greats like Sir Vivian Richards, Jeffrey Dujon and former South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes etc. He also said that there was a large number of trade enquires at the Goa stall. Mr Naik informed that Sir Richards, who has visited Goa several times in the past, not only had a meeting with the Tourism Minister, Mr Nilkanth Halarnkar but also made enquiries about various places in the state and informed the Goa delegation at the WTM that he along with other of his colleagues would be visiting the state in January or February 2011.

The tourism department in association with models from England and Russia would soon undertake shooting of a new promotional film as part of its efforts to promote Goa the world over. (NT)