VASCO
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on Thursday said the Baina beach is likely to be one of the model beaches in the State which is being planned with enhanced tourism facilities.
Khaunte was speaking to reporters after a joint inspection of Baina beach along with Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar, councillors, tourism officials and other officials.
"Vasco may be the only city in the country with an airport and port within a short distance, and we have to see how we can utilise this for tourism activity. We need to have the right kind of beach to attract quality tourists, and we have to take beach stretches and conceptualise a vision and make it a model beach stretch.”
“We will take these model stretches across Goa so that we can boost tourism and generate employment. We have decided to take one such model beach each in North and South Goa and since Salkar has requested me to take Baina beach as well, we can add Baina as the third model beach in Goa.”
“If this happens, Baina beach will get a facelift and people will see it in a much different manner. We arrived here to get first-hand information about the beach and have understood the beach parameters. We will show Salkar our concept and ensure that a lot of things take place here and make it a bigger tourist attraction before the next season starts in October," said Khaunte.
The minister said a model beach should have a convenience centre which will have an information counter on services available and helplines.
“The convenience centre should have locker facilities so that tourists can keep their stuff safely and enjoy the beach together. The centre should have changing facilities, shower rooms and washrooms and also have seating arrangements for senior citizens.”
“We have to make the beach disabled-friendly and when there are shacks, we have to see a concept for these shacks and make it environment-friendly and check what arrangements are required for them.”
“We can have plug and play shacks in place and give good service to shack owners as well and provide great amenities to tourists. We have much more details in the model beach stretches of Goa," said Khaunte.
Khaunte said he will also check into the pending Baina beach beautification project on priority and assured that steps would be taken to complete the project at the earliest.
