The proposed tax reimbursement plan woos more filmmakers to shoot in Goa, India's prime beach destination. The Indian film makers are all set to have the last laugh as the recent proposal on tax reduction by the Entertainment Society of Goa is approved by the Goa government.

According to this tax reimbursement scheme, movie makers will be able to reclaim a part of the tax they pay to the state for shooting in its locales including the tax one pays in the hotel and travel. The filmmakers will have to submit their bills by the end of the shoot and then they can recover up to 50 per cent of the tax back.

The Goan beaches like Anjuna where many popular Hindi movies  including Mruder 2 and others have been shot have been favorite shooting locales for Indian movie makers  since a long time.There are many beaches in Goa, some popular, most of them small and waiting to be explored. I found this blog, Mary & Matts Adventures particularly informative and interesting with some beautiful pictures of their Goan holiday. Check it out!

The rampant mining activities in Goa has led to serious ecological degradation and plunder of natural resources. To draw attention towards this cause and to  end the pillage, the  non-resident Goans (NRGs) in London have come together under the banner of The 'Save Goa Campaign UK'.   A brain child of  Carmen Miranda, a former director of the Panos Institute, this awareness campaign will focus on the rapacious mining in the Goan hinterlands, which has put this coastal state and its people lives  in jeopardy.

"The campaign will help spread awareness amongst the Goan community abroad. Donate and help raise funds for activists and organisations in Goa that are taking legal and other actions," Miranda told IANS.

It is estimated that there are over 110 mines in operation in Goa with 130 more in  awaiting clearance. Millions of tonnes of mining  rejects are strewn along the villages along the mining belts  polluting the air and water resources. Over three-fourths of a million odd trees have been  cut by the Goa forest department, largely for mining purposes. Miranda has been in the forefront of gathering support in checking the  disastrous effects of unplanned mining in the state and has  been documenting the ravages caused by open cast iron ore mining in Goa over the last several years to restore and retain the natural wealth and beauty of one of the most popular beach destinations in the world!

To know more about save Goa campaign, take  a look here

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Goas-battle-against-mining-reaches-London/articleshow/9035792.cms

 

While some of the important temples in Goa like Mangueshi temple at Mangueshi village, and Ramnathi temple at Ponda have put a dress code in place. have  laid down a strict dress code for visitors, to restrict foreigners a prominent temple of Mahalasa Narayani Temple at Mardol, located 20 km from Panaji. The newly erected board says "Entry Restricted for Foreign Tourists" Mardol has banned foreigners altogether.

We are not against the foreigners, but their dresses and conduct in the temple is highly objectionable, so the management has decided to ban them," said Vinod Kamat, President, Mahalasa Narayani Temple.Recently the locals were outraged after some foreigners, out of ignorance, wore garlands, which were supposed to  offered to the deity. Before the ban, on an average a hundred foreigners visited the temple every day.

The beaches in Goa are deserted and the shacks and the beach umbrellas are missing as the peak tourist season has come to an end with the monsoon rains. However, a large number of people mostly domestic tourists are discovering the charm of the rain drenched hinterlands and beaches of Goa during the  the off season monsoon period.

The main tourist season in Goa begins in late September and continues through March when millions of tourists from India and abroad visit the pretty beaches of Goa and discover the rich culture and history of Goa.  The tourism department has been promoting “raindrop tourism” from June to August to enable the tourists to see the unseen beauty of Goa. The rain flushed sea coasts and the fresh greenery around enhance the beauty of this delightful destination on the west coast of India.

However during the monsoon, as the sea gets more rough, the beach activities will not be available and the holiday makers are advised not to swim in high tides. Mostly domestic tourists come during the off season to make the most of the less crowded beaches and  attractive hotel tariffs during this time of the year.  Goa remains alluring all round the year and will never fail to take your breath away, so in case you are planning a trip to Goa, this could well be the best time of the year!

Goa tourism department is planning a tie up with Nice, a picturesque city in France, to provide better facilities to tourists visiting the state capital- Panjim.

The tie-up would be done in specific areas such as rapid transportation system and solid waste treatment. Both the cities will collaborate on these issues on a time-bound programme.

The technical team from Nice will study the conditions in Goa and will establish a feasible plan for execution. In the meantime, Goa is doing its ground work and planning.

The recent crisis in the land of the pharaohs has forced tourists to change their travel itineraries to  Egypt and other North African countries to Asian beach destinations like Goa, the state tourism officials said. A 15 percent increase in room occupancy is expected ever since the civil resistance movement against the Hosni Mubarak regime in Egypt began   early  this year.

Travelers who were earlier booked to destinations like Egypt and Tunisia made last minute changes in the tour plans, which took them to destinations like Goa. The official also said that the state government has requested  the union home ministry to relax visa norms temporarily for the inbound tourists, who had to cancel their Egypt tour plans due to internal turmoil there. Goa had seen a sharp decline  of over  30 percent in western Europe travellers this year  due to the new visa norms.

Ralph de Souza, spokesperson for the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), said that the Egypt revolution had triggered a favourable spin off for Goa as far as tourism was concerned. The crisis in Egypt has turned the tides in favour of Goan tourism industry and there has been a marked increase in foreign tourists especially from Russia according to the sources. The Government has to relax the visa norms to cash in on the situation and to attract tourists especially from western Europe who have conventionally preferred Goa's beaches.

A helipad alongside Panaji's Mandovi bridge and five more across the state, including at Colva and Old Goa, are set to launch helicopter tourism in Goa. The project-mooted unsuccessfully twice before-is banking on ` 3 crore funding from the state and central governments.

It is decided that the state government will prepare the infrastructure and will lease it to a company providing helicopter services. The sites identified for the helipads are at Aguada, Ela-Old Goa, Panaji, Mollem, Tiracol and Colva. While the state has already made a budgetary provision of ` 1 crore for this financial year, it will also avail a scheme from the union government for funds of ` 2 crore."

The company which will take up this project will decide upon the pricing of the sight-seeing helicopter rides. The helipad at Panaji will be built atop a four-storeyed parking lot to be constructed alongside the Mandovi bridge. The building will have parking facilities for two- and four-wheelers and for heavy vehicles. It will also feature a reception area, cafeteria and counters for the cruise boat operations on the Mandovi River.

Apart from the six spots mentioned, the tourism department had also shown interest in a helipad at Cabo de Rama. The area, however, is a protected archaeological site and the idea has been shelved in view of the daunting task of getting requisite permissions.

The state government is also open to creating a heli-ambulance service if a proposal comes its way.

A year after Goa banished bikinis from its tourism promotion campaigns, this two-piece swimwear is back in the promotional campaigns of Goa tourism to lure the  international tourists to its fabled beaches. The campaign is being spearheaded  by the former Miss Russia runner-up Svetlana Stepankovskaya and Indian model Alisha Pekha in the Rs.8 million ($180,000) campaign. Indian actress Mahima Chaudhary is also a part of the advertisement, which has been released in the Europe market, ahead of the tourism season which starts  here in October. ‘The aesthetically shot ads will  feature the multiple aspects of Goa as a tourist destination, according to Director of Tourism Swapnil Naik.

Goa had banned bikini-clad women from its campaigns last year in an attempt to promote the state as a ‘family tourism’ destination. Goa attracts nearly 2.6 million tourists annually out of which  half a million are foreigners. The bikini ban had adversely affected the tourism prospects of Goa and this policy reversal will hopefully  bring back the much needed foreign exchange to the state tourism department.

Goa is renowned for its spectacular beaches that are among the finest beaches in the world. These beaches are divided into two parts that is beaches in north and beaches in south. Beaches in north are very popular and crowded while the beaches of south are relatively quieter. These beaches are outstanding and the major attraction of this city which you can get through Goa Beach Tour.

Anjuna Beach
Anjuna Beach, located close to the Dabolim airport and Panaji, is a small hamlet in northern part of Goa. The pleasant and favorable climate throughout the year makes this place tourist destination. Chapora Fort, Mascarenhas Mansion and Albuquerque Mansion are the popular sites of this place.

Calangute Beach
This beach is set with the backdrop of the Arabian Sea is truly named as the ‘Queen of Beaches’ surrounded by palm and coconut trees. It is one of the most popular and busiest beaches of Goa which was a busy fishing village.

Mobor Beach
Mobor Beach is a small and tranquil beach located south of the stretch of colva beach. This beach is amazingly beautiful and bordered by lovely rocky cliffs, coconuts and a palm trees, this beach is an ideal spot for tourists. Visit to this beautiful city where enjoyment and parties never ends.

Aimed at giving a tourism boost and of handicrafts, Goa Government is setting up a handicrafts bazaar "Goa Haat" modelled along the lines of 'Delhi Haat'. The bazaar will be set up across six acres of land on the Eastern side of the Rua de Ourem creek in Panaji, opposite the Directorate of Tourism.

While the blueprints for the 'Goa Haat' is ready and the expected cost of Rs five crore is sanctioned by the central government, the approval of the Panaji Planning and Development Authority (PDA) is awaited. The 'Goa Haat' is expected to function in a similar fashion as that of 'Delhi Haat'. Only four acres will be used for the stalls and two acres will remain untouched so that the greenery of the area is preserved.

The 'Goa Haat' will have 25 permanent stalls which will be allotted to the tourism or handicraft corporations of different states in India on a lease basis to conduct their sales throughout the year. Another 40 stalls will be open, temporary stalls without shutters. Here, artisans of different states will be asked to apply for allotment of stalls for two or three weeks and the allotments will be done in advance. It is said that a certain percentage of the stalls will be reserved for Goan artisans who will also enjoy some preference in allotment of the stalls.

The concept of allotting stalls on a rotation basis is favourable to the government because it eliminates the permanent occupation of a stall. The government hopes that the stalls showcasing handicrafts from different states of India will attract tourists to the 'Goa Haat' giving it a national colour, feel and generate revenue.

The Tourism Department has plans to utilise the unused two acres and is considering to start entertainment facilities like laser shows, amphitheatres, etc on a public-private-partnership basis without involving government funds.

Tourists who are now flocking to Goa on a vacation will soon be able enjoy golf as well. The state's very first Professional Golfers Association (PGA) standard golf course is to come up soon.

The tourism department floated an expression of interest (EoI) inviting reputed developers for the project a few months ago and has short-listed a proposal submitted by Leading Hotels Pvt Ltd and the Four Seasons hospitality group. Leading Hotels edged out other bids by DLF and Oxford Properties.

Undertaken on a public private partnership (PPP) basis, the proposed golf course will come up in the coastal sub-district of Pernem in north Goa. The state tourism Dpt. said that it will not be involved in procuring land or raising revenue for the construction of the project and allied facilities. The proposed project, spread over 200 acres, will include a 150 acre international standard golf course and the other 50 acres will be utilized for allied hospitality and tourist facilities.

Goa is set as one of the highly preferred wedding destinations in India for urban tourists from the United States. As part of a tourism promotion plan, the authorities are creating various tourism promotional plans to set Goa high on the profile.

With Goa’s sustained popularity with European tourists, mainly from Britain, Russia and Scandinavian countries, targeting US tourists would help in broadening the state’s tourist base.

Goa is already a sought after beach wedding destination. Many celebrities from Indian Bollywood have chosen and still chooses Goa as their wedding destination.

With roadshows and networking meetings, Goa is trying to tap the tourism potential of NRIs from the US, especially techies from the Silicon Valley who visit the country regularly.

As part of these canvassing, Goan's representatives tour in various states of US west coast. The Goa government would now participate in a trade show and in an annual convention at the world’s gambling capital Las Vegas and Nevada.

Goa authorities are aiming at the NRIs from the US, especially techies from Silicon Valley in San Francisco. They come annually to visit their relatives in Kerala, Bangalore, Pune, Chennai and so on.

The tour included road-shows and networking meetings with trade representatives along the west coast in the cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas.

Former Goa Tourism Minister Fransisco Pacheco moved for a 'calling attention motion' on Rohan Sippy's forthcoming movie 'Dum Maro Dum' claiming that it will further spoil the image of Goa and affect its tourism industry.

He is worried that the already dented image of Goan tourism industry would be further damaged due to the movie. The calling attention motion will be taken up by Goa Legislative Assembly Speaker Pratapsingh Rane during the ongoing session. Francisco Pacheco told media that the government is looking for a family tourism inside the state and don't want the sex and drug tourism spot tag (for Goa), which will kill the industry.

The leader, who was the brain behind famous 'Go Goa 365 Days Holiday Destination' campaign, said that people believe whatever is shown in movies. He was instrumental in getting off bikini clad women from the government advertisements promoting tourism. Looking at the promos of the movie, it is clear that it portrays a bad image about the state," he said. He planning to move to High court seeking ban on the release of the movie. He insisted that if the movie is a fiction, they should have avoided naming Goa in it.

Efforts to contact Sippy's publicist fetched no response. The state police earlier had asked the producer to screen the movie for them before releasing it in theatres. Chief Minister Digambar Kamat had also said that he will ask the police to look into the matter. The flick stars Abhishekh Bachchan, Bipasha Basu and Deepika Padukone in lead roles and will release in mid-April.

Beach Bonanza celebrations in Goa will start on April 17th this year. If you're looking to experience the real Goa you cannot miss this fiesta!

Held on the magnificent beaches of Goa including Colva, Benaulim, the Beach Bonanza offers unparalleled fun and entertainment in a relaxed environment. Music shows, dance events, contests and competitions are sure keep the adrenaline pumping as you enjoy the sea breeze and groove to funky beats. A bevy of food stalls greet you with tantalizing aromas and flavors, beckoning you to sample each item on the platter.

The bonanza is a sure way to let your hair down and get a taste of Goa. The Beach Bonanza is held on Sundays from April through the end of May.

The BJP-supported panel which is contesting elections for Corporation of City of Panaji, Goa (CCP), has promised to shut down illegal casinos if voted to power. Mandovi River, which flows across the city, is a home to six off-shore casinos, which allegedly do not have proper licences.

CCP elections are slated for March 13. The BJP-supported 'Panaji First' panel will face off with the ruling panel backed by state Education Minister Atanasio Monserratte (Congress).

The capital city(Panaji), which has been turned into a "filthy bin", would also be restored to its past glory by the panel. Panaji First has also assured to solve the traffic woes, and work for bringing in a mass rapid transport system.

Film Maker Rohan Sippy has just canned his Goa-based film, "Dum Maro Dum", a potboiler of sex, drugs and the underbelly. But now it seems that problems and arguments are arising a week before the release of this much anticipated film, which portrayes the negative side of Goa.

The tourism industry is apprehensive that tourist footfalls will hit the pause mode as soon as Sippy’s movie is released. Film makers though, have called for reality check saying “If it’s true why can’t it be portrayed?”.

Travel and Tourism Association of Goa spokesman Ralph D’Souza is in the opinon that throughout the history of Bollywood, Goa is portrayed negatively. While men are shown as drunkards, women are shown as loose characters. Such depictions are damaging, but nonetheless the world knows real Goa”.

Goa's film makers are in the opinion that true facts should be made known, if DMD is based on true facts, it should not be opposed. Also adds, if Goans feel that DMD shows Goa in a bad taste, instead agitating that will give the movie nationwide publicity it should be stopped from releasing in Goa's theatres.