NT Reporter
Panaji
Goa has tremendous potential for eco-tourism, but it needs to be promoted mindfully, speakers said at a panel discussion on the promotion and growth of eco-tourism and homestays in Goa. GTDC General Manager Gavin Dias said initiatives such as eco-tourism and hinterland tourism, under the campaign ‘Goa Beyond Beaches’, are now becoming viable, while also providing job opportunities.
Pointing out that today’s traveller is well researched, Dias said, “They appreciate you doing the sustainability, doing the regenerative work and that is helping this ecosystem merge into one entity called Goa.”
Soul Travelling Founder Varun Hegde said the future of Goa is bright as far as eco-tourism is concerned and that the small things around need to be marketed and projected in the right manner.
“I believe the future of tourism is curated. Right from how you enter a destination, to the place that you stay, to how you can interact with the different parts of what the destination provides,” he said.
“We should compete with the A-League of tourism, with the best in the world and that involves also tackling some things like over-tourism. It should not be just everyone coming, especially in
hinterlands,” he said.
Director at the Wildernest Nature Resort Nirmal Kulkarni said it is important to sensitise tourists who come either to the coasts or to the hinterlands. “It is of utmost importance that there is sensitivity on how they behave and what they do,” he said.
