GTDC launches improved website
The Goan Network
In a bid to revolutionise the way tourists interact with trade, Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) launched its re-engineered web portal and a new mobile application. This is the first such initiative by any tourism board in India.
The new website and mobile app is aimed at becoming a one-stop solution for all tourism related queries and bookings.
Speaking on the launch, GTDC’s managing director, Nikhil Desai said, “On our old website, we were showing only rooms available at GTDC’s residencies. But, on our new website, we have partnered with 150 others from the tourism industry across Goa.”
This means that the new website also has a number of private hotels listed and as well as packages of a number of tour operators. As a result, tourists will be able to find hotel-rooms and other packages available across Goa by just logging into the website or mobile app.
Desai even said that the annual turnover of hotels in Goa is to the tune of Rs 7000 crore and GTDC is only targeting a business of Rs 100 crore through these hotels in the short run.
Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar said, “The web portal is designed in such a way that international and domestic visitors will be able to browse through various options right from choosing holiday packages, hotel bookings, adventure trips, crocodile dandies, dolphin trips with ease”
The new website will be available in six foreign languages including Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, German and French in addition to Hindi and English. This means that GTDC has taken initiative to make sure that tourists from non-English speaking countries also get fruits of this effort.
GTDC’s chairman, Nilesh Cabral, who was present said, “The suppliers will need to register under the GTDC web portal to avail the benefit as it is an opportunity to market their products and services worldwide.”
The website and the mobile application were developed by QUB Tourism Services. As per the arrangement, GTDC will not incur any cost for this venture, but it will share revenue with it.
