Consultant to assist tourism board with policies, private investment

Panaji: The tourism department plans to appoint a consultant to assist the Goa Tourism Board (GTB) with funding from the Centre and international financing agencies. The tourism department hopes that the consultant can also promote private sector investments in Goa’s tourism sector.
Along the lines of the consultant appointed by the Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board, the tourism department will count on the consultant to provide advisory services along with monitoring support for ongoing projects.
“The consultant will help govt conduct pre-feasibility studies and track the progress of all projects being implemented in Goa for the tourism sector. This will help decide the best use of funds and also help identify underutilised or idle department assets,” said a department official.
The consultant will be appointed for a five-year contract. The Goa Tourism Board is headed by chief minister Pramod Sawant, with tourism minister Rohan Khaunte serving as co-chairman.
As part of the contract, the consultant will be required to conduct feasibility studies, identify and recommend new schemes and potential funding sources under which new tourism projects of the state can be undertaken. The department said the consultant will also suggest new policies, guidelines, and regulatory measures, if required, for tourist operators.
Given recent claims of a drop in tourism footfalls, it is not surprising that the tourism department wants the consultant to track performance indicators — annual tourist footfall and revenue generated — and compare these with national and international tourism destinations.
“The consultant will coordinate with the Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board in promoting private sector investments in Goa’s tourism sector. The board requires assistance in framing investor-friendly policies that can promote investment opportunities and attract private investors to Goa. If we want to bring in new activities and businesses, we need new policies,” said a tourism department official.
The department also hopes that the consultant can keep a watch on issues and concerns faced by tourists in the state. In 2014, the department decided to formulate a Tourism Master Plan and Policy along with the formation of a Goa Tourism Board to streamline the initiatives taken up for the tourism sector.