Tourism industry says Mopa is a must

PTI, PANAJI | 28 April 2012 16:30 IST

Amidst political opposition for the proposed Greenfield airport at Mopa, the Goa tourism industry feels that the new facility is a must to address the growing needs of passenger and cargo traffic in the state.

Travel and Tourism association of Goa (TTAG), an umbrella organisation of tour operators, has said that Dabolim airport which is currently managed by Indian Navy will not be able to handle futuristic aircrafts and does not have cargo airplane handling facility.

"The Union government has already clarified that the Dabolim airport will be retained even after Mopa is constructed.

There should be no opposition to new airport," TTAG spokesman Ralf D'Souza told PTI.

United Goans democratic party (UGDP), one of the regional political outfits, has expressed its opposition to Mopa airport, which will be tendered to run on built, own, operate transfer (BOOT) basis by September, this year.

The party has expressed fears this new project on northern border of the state will spell doom for the tourism in the Southern part of the state.

D'Souza pointed out that Dabolim airport is being expanded with construction of new terminal building, creation of apron space to park aircrafts and aero bridges for the passengers.

The airport, D'Souza said, has limited scope of expansion as Indian Navy is also operating its base (INHS Hansa) from there.

He said that once Mopa is commissioned, that is somewhere in 2015, it will be able to host wide bodied aircrafts carrying 700-900 passengers.

Goa's development as a cargo hub is also possible only through the new airport, D’Souza added.


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Hi Iona-UK:::You make some fair points. However,please remember Heathrow Airport and even Gatwick Airport in the UK,and other airports too have been developed with extra runways & also modernised to cater for the ever growing travel & tourism market.

The cost works out cheaper

I do not see why the existing Dabolim Airport couldn`t be developed on smilar lines.

Many Business travellers want to get to the heart of London city in quick time. Hence we have London City airport.Mopa Airport goes against the grain of this time factor.

Goa for sure needs another airport to cater for the future. However Mopa,due to its remote & distand location,from the hub of Business & Tourism activity, is the cause of opposition.A more centralised location,that caters for all Goans and Tourist & Business travellers would make more sense.And I am sure all Goans would be happy too.

Having to travel for 2 hours in the hot sun, with exhorbitant & cheating Taxi rates from South Goa to North Goa makes no sense at all.It will all add to the cost of Travel.

Tourists arriving from Europe / Russia etc to Mopa , will have to add another £20/=( at current Taxi rates-aprox) to travel from Mopa to some of Goa`s best hotels & beaches in South Goa.A speculated rail link will be more time consuming & inconvinient.

Many astute Tourists and business travellers always factor- in ,the time it takes to arrive at their hotles/destinations,from an airport....as TIME IS MOEY

- N.Fernandes, London | 30 th April 2012 13:22

 

I say yes to MOPA. It is very unfortunate that goans are upset with Mopa.Goans are well travelled and surely know that goa as an international destination needs better infrastructure. Goa can be developed like Florida(many of our goans have been there) ,The backbone of their economy is tourism. Even close to Heathrow one has thriving farms .An airport at mopa and then various theme parks at ponda,canacona etc.the coastal belt needs only to keep the beaches neat and clean to attract tourists.Better sanitation facilities and lot of flowers everywhere especially bourgainvillea plants as they are hardy.Yes oppose mega projects in villages but not infrastructure that will benefit us in the long run.I am sure Mr. Parrikar intentions are good .Let us not get carried away and look at goa ahead.Let us not bring religion into everything.

- iona, uk | 29 th April 2012 17:29

 

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