PANAJI
In order to resolve key issues affecting the tourism sector, Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar chaired a high-profile meeting which was attended by officials from the Bureau of Immigration, Traffic Police, Goa Police, association of taxi operators, representatives of Travel and Tourism Association of Goa and B C H Negi, who is the new director of Dabolim airport.
Negi was apprised of the need to expedite the process of issuing e-visas to tourists. He was also impressed upon to increase the number of counters as tourist arrivals are increasing, the need to increase manpower and to improve designs of the e-visa issue counters.
The taxi operators raised the issue of lack of adequate parking space available near Dabolim airport. They apprised Negi of the need to increase parking space for taxis around the airport within close proximity of the arrival terminal.
The Bureau of Immigration was urged to improve their services at the earliest because the forthcoming tourism season is expected to see a lot more tourists availing of e-visa facility at Dabolim airport.
In this regard, Parulekar said, “I will speak to the union ministry for home affairs on the need for improving immigration services at Dabolim airport and iron out all problems hindering the smooth functioning and issue of e-visas to foreign tourists arriving at the airport. Issues of upkeep and maintenance of the airport and parking issues will also need to be resolved before the new tourism season begins.”
Nilesh Cabral, chairman Goa Tourism Development Corporation, who also co-chaired the meeting said, “There is need for taxi operators at the airport to adopt modern techniques with regards to issuance of tickets using latest technology.”
