After north Goa setback, chopper joyrides launched in south

Days after the helicopter tourism project started in north Goa ran aground due to opposition by villagers, it has been launched in southern parts.
The new services were launched yesterday.
"The joyrides have begun in South Goa from a five star private property Park Hyatt at Arossim beach," Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) chairman Nilesh Cabral told reporters today.
The recently-introduced hot air balloon and chopper rides will serve as a huge tourist attraction in the state where people flock for its beaches, he said.
Earlier on February 2, the GTDC along with Pawan Hans company had begun giving helicopter joysrides services from Panaji to Aguada helipad, located across river Mandovi.

However, the very next day the facility had to be suspended abruptly after the locals refused to allow Aguada plateau as a landing site.
"There is a lot more to come in the months ahead and we are optimistic that these new initiatives will go a long way in putting Goa on the map for world-class adventure and leisure tourism," Cabral said.