Goa Hoteliers, Navy At Loggerheads

Local hoteliers, who want to cash in on Goa's tourist-pulling golden beaches, have been at loggerheads with the navy over the strict control of the only airport in the tiny state.

Goa Travel & Tourism Association president Lenny Pinto announced that about 14 chartered operators would bring in tourists in the September-October period.

The Dabolim airfield is currently open for use by the charter flights, which bring in tourists mainly from the United Kingdom and Scandinavian countries, only on three days in the week - Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Pinto said.

Industrialist and hotelier Dattaraj Salgaoncar, who currently heads the Goa Chambers of Commerce & Industry, said the business community wanted a free movement of goods and persons but went on to compliment the Navy on its cooperative approach.

 

Certain politicians and critics here have been suggesting the Navy move out of Dabolim airport and leave it entirely for civilian use.

But the Navy, which has been there since the 60s, is unwilling to concede to the demand.

Suresh Mehta, a rear admiral who heads the Navy in Goa, said the land had been acquired from the Goa government to set up a naval air station in accordance with the Land Acquisition Act.

Mehta said he understood the importance of the tourism industry as a major foreign exchange earner, but Goa should not not become a cheap tourist destination.

He said national preparedness and tourism promotion could progress together. If needed, he said, the Navy could accommodate up to 26 different charter flights every week.

Mehta said the Navy had pumped in Rs 60 crore annually into Goa's economy.

Pinto suggested mechanisation, modernisation and computerisation of various facilities in addition to infrastructural development to attract more tourists to the state.