PANAJI
In a swift yet belated twist, the Goa government made a surprising alteration to its presentation made before the NITI Aayog. Nearly 10 hours after initially promoting the influx of tourists due to various international events including the controversy-ridden Sunburn festival, the government retracted its statement.
No specific mention of any festivals or events was made in the revised copy shared with the media late Saturday night.
In the initial version, the Chief Minister's office lauded the importance of these events to put Goa on the international cultural map amidst controversy surrounding Sunburn's plans to relocate and GIDC's subsequent refusal to host the event at its Quitol property.
The 9th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog was held in Delhi on Saturday. The initial speech mentioned Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stated that events like the Sunburn, Carnival, Shigmotsav, etc attract tourists.
“The famous Carnival of Goa, Sunburn festival, Shigmotsav, International Film Festival of India (IFFI) and International Purple Festival for the persons with Disability (Divyangs) are just a few examples of happenings that have put Goa on the global cultural map. These events not only attract tourists but also provide a platform for local artists and entrepreneurs,” he stated.
With Quitol as a proposed venue, the government faced criticism for promoting the event often associated with drug culture and contradicting Goa's cultural and traditional values. Subsequently, the IDC, in its board meeting on Monday, rejected Quitol as a venue. However, sources claim that discussion about other possible locations in South Goa continues.
The 'revised' presentation emphasized on creating job opportunities for locals in tourism sector and creating world class infrastructure.
"The development of world-class infrastructure, promotion of sustainable tourism practices, and organization of international events have attracted a steady flow of tourists. Our efforts to promote Goa as a premier tourist destination have borne fruit. The construction of new hotels, resorts and entertainment facilities has created a plethora of job opportunities for our youth," it said.
