CM assures full support to tourism sector

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2008-12-13
MARGAO- The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat has assured full support to the Tourism Minister, Mr Francisco Pacheco to make Goa top state in the country in the tourism sector.
The Chief Minister was speaking as the chief guest at a function held at Colva on Friday to launch 'Life Guard Safety Patrol' along the beaches in South Goa. The function was organised on the Colva beach.
The Chief Minister gave assurance after the Tourism Minister appealed to Mr Kamat to help him turn Goa into the best tourist destination in the country.
The tourism department plans to gives special attention to best life saving equipment required by life guards on beaches on the lines of that existing in the US and Australia.
The Chief Minister was impressed with the patrolling vehicles, huge life guard stand, 8 jet skis and the several life guards ready with their equipment and congratulated Mr Pacheco on this feat. He said that this project would send positive signals to the foreign tourists.
Mr Kamat said since tourism is the backbone of the state economy, the department would get all the required help. The Chief Minister also said that security has been tightened on the beaches.
Earlier, Mr Pacheco, addressing the gathering said that there was a need to stop the drownings on Goan beaches and added that this project would help a lot in saving valuable lives.
He said that he is contemplating of initiating more such programmes if his ministry gets good support from the CM. On being brought to his notice by a local shack owner about the taxi operators' problems, he assured to solve them if he gets it through proper channel.
Others who spoke on the occasion were the Chief Secretary, Mr J P Singh, Dr Modassir, the Tourism director, Mr Elvis Gomes, local sarpanch, Ms Suzy Fernandes, Parish priest Fr Diago and other top ranking officers. The Curchorem MLA, Mr Shyam Satardekar, also spoke on the occasion. It was disclosed that the project would cover the Majorda, Velsao, Colva, Utorda, Betalbatim, Benaulim, Sernabatim, Cavelossim, Carmona beaches.