Goa govt brings village tourism into focus

PANAJI: The state government has notified the Tourist Villages Development Scheme 2021 for setting up infrastructure in rural areas through village panchayats with the objective of creating “a village tourism circuit that acts as an independent and strong tourism product”, to attract “responsible” visitors.

Funds up to Rs 50 lakh will be allocated to a selected village to develop infrastructure like kiosks for sale of local products, arts, crafts, multi-utility hall for organising local fairs and festivals, home stays, Wi-Fi and solar streetlights, among others.Financial support over and above this amount in a financial year will be decided by the tourism department depending on the availability of funds.
The tourism department will not transfer or disburse funds directly to any village panchayat.
The scheme is part of the state government’s economic revival plan to make villages self-reliant under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat, Swayampoorna Goa’ initiative launched by the chief minister on October 1, 2020.
A selection committee will be tasked with choosing villages for development based on various factors such as demographics, socio-economy, availability of natural attractions and heritage sites, prevalence of arts and crafts, cuisine, Goan music and folk dances among other potential tourism elements. The committee will comprise secretary tourism, director tourism, managing director of Goa Tourism Development Corporation and the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa besides two experts appointed by the tourism department.
The tourism department or its associates or any reputed third-party appointed by it, will identify the list of works, allocate a budget and undertake necessary works. The selection committee, at its discretion, will then allocate a suitable budget for the works.
The village panchayat will have to submit an undertaking stating that it will maintain and manage the facilities developed under the project as also bear all incremental expenditure.
As reported by TOI earlier this month, villages will be selected under individual themes with scope to add other themes depending on their tourism potential. These include fishing, heritage, spiritual, agriculture, feni trails, adventure, nature expedition, and wellness among others.