Goa to rebrand itself and invest Rs 450 crore in three years

Goa plans to rebrand itself, promote its unexplored destinations and invest up to Rs 450 crore to improve its infrastructure.
"Besides beaches, we have many more things to offer to tourists like culture, architecture, cuisine and music. We have many unexplored places like the hinterland, bird sanctuary, temples and forts among others, that can be equally attractive for tourists in every season. We are planning to rebrand our state and we have appointed Mumbai-based agency Chlorophyll for the exercise," Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) Managing Director Nikhil Desai told PTI here today.
The GTDC has also appointed KPMG and Europraxis to formulate a masterplan for the state's tourism sector, which will be ready in the next nine months, he said.

"The masterplan will help put everything in perspective and we will work accordingly, to improve the sector," he said.
The Goa state government has lined up around Rs 450 crore to improve infrastructure and upgrade existing facilities during the next three years, he said.
"In addition, we will get central funds of Rs 120 crore for the next two years and another Rs 100 crore for other activities like hot air balloons, horse trailing and segway tours among others," he said.

The state also plans to spend around Rs 1,500 crore to upgrade seven properties jointly with the private sector.

GTDC has signed an Memorandum of Understanding with Mumbai-based Maritime Energy Heli-Air Services (MEHAIR) to launch seaplane services by April 2014, Desai said.
The GTDC is also in talks with Pawan Hans Helicopters to provide helicopter rides to tourists, he said.
"Talks with Pawan Hans are in an advance stage. We hope to sign an agreement in a couple of months and begin services by next year," he said.