MAPUSA
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said Goa has always been a preferred destination but the challenge before his government was to double the contribution of the tourism sector to the State’s economy.
Khaunte also said that efforts will be made to ensure fibre connectivity to every household by 2024.
“Tourism is one of the major channels of revenue to give back to the economy of Goa. We have been contributing around 16.04 per cent to the State’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The challenge is how to double it,” Khaunte said while speaking at an event in Panaji.
The Tourism Minister also expected a major boom in tourism once the Mopa airport became operational, the first phase of which was expected to be inaugurated on August 15.
“If everything works in the right direction then Mopa will be the biggest game-changer in the State,” he said.
He also said that a lot of illegalities were taking place along the beach front which should be dealt with an iron hand.
“What was Calangute when we were kids and what it is now? The illegalities along the beach belt need to be dealt with with an iron hand. We need to change that. I am happy the chief minister has taken up the task upfront…,” he said.
Khaunte, who also holds the charge of the IT portfolio, said that the government will work towards providing fibre-to-home connectivity to every house in the State.
“Fibre-to-home will be another amenity just like the basic amenities like water and electricity connection given to every household. We may be the first to achieve this by 2024,” he said.
In the meanwhile, the tourism department’s enforcement squad cracked the whip on illegalities on the Calangute beach on Sunday and seized items which were illegally put out on the beach.
Concerned authorities also penalised tourists who were found drinking on the beach.
Khaunte had recently said that major stress will be laid on enforcement to deal with illegalities on the beach.
