PANJIM: Setting up of golf course, convention center, theme parks and encouraging wedding tourism were the major demands placed by the legislators in the State Legislative Assembly today, in promoting Goa as a major tourist hub in the world, apart from being highlighted as a beach tourism destination.

A need for formulating a comprehensive tourism policy, giving direction to state’s tourism, was also raised on the floor of the House. Speaking during the demand for grants for tourism, the legislators cutting across party line pointed towards government’s failure in promoting the state’s hidden tourism sides including its heritage, hinterland, historical monuments, and others as major tourist attractions.

Businesses are failing to realise the commercial advantages to be gained from adapting to climate change, according to a new Defra report seen exclusively by edie before its publication on Friday.

PANJIM: In an official admission of the gradual devastation of the Goa coastline, the Water Resources Department in its Performance Budget presented before the Goa legislative assembly has admitted that 25 per cent of state’s shoreline is affected with erosion caused by the sea.

The document tabled on the floor of the House Tuesday has mentioned that 25.02 km shoreline is affected with sea erosion.

Fisheries expert and marine scientist Sanjeeva Ghosh has demanded core changes to the project report for the proposed seaport at Vizhinjam, warning that the construction activities for the port would impact on the marine ecosystem and the livelihood of the fishing community and pose a serious setback to beach tourism.

Pointing out that the project would lead to significant shoreline changes in the area, Mr. Ghosh, former Additional Director of Fisheries, Kerala, demanded a scientific and technical review of the proposal.

The state government has decided to rid 12 tourist and pilgrim towns of load shedding this summer.

JAIPUR: Rajasthan bagged the second prize in the Comprehensive Development of Tourism category during the National Tourism Awards ceremony on Wednesday. The award was given by President Pratibha Patil at Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi to Seema Bahugana, principal resident commissioner in Delhi. In the same category, Madhya Pradesh was adjudged the best state.

Madhya Pradesh bagged the National Tourism Award on Wednesday for developing tourism related infrastructure and programmes and also for Best Tourism Film and Best Tourism Promotion Publicity Materi

Presents National Tourism Awards urging tourism industry to ensure culture of hospitality

Quoting the age-old tradition of ‘Athithi Devo Bhava' (Guest is God), President Pratibha Patil on Wednesday urged the tourism industry to ensure that the culture of hospitality that the country is known for is maintained and that the principle of “responsible tourism” is adhered to.

Climate change is altering the face of the Himalayas, devastating farming communities and making Mount Everest increasingly treacherous to climb, some of the world’s top mountaineers have warned.

At a meeting held under Engineering and Auto Expo-2012 at the State capital, a meeting of foreign companies’ representatives and the State Government was also held during which they were given invi