Goa now eyes for health & wellness tourism
HOSPITALITY BIZ, MUMBAI | 21 August 2013 21:33 IST
Goa needs more high-end hotel rooms to hope for big-ticket tourists, according to the Goa Investment Policy 2013, prepared by a government-appointed task force, headed by Atul Pai Kane, Goa Chairman, Confederation of Indian industry (CII).
It also says that the state can position itself as a Health and Wellness Tourism destination, as per a report by Indiatimes.
Setting its sight on the emerging segment of the tourism segment, which attracted over 1.3 million people to India in 2013 alone, the draft Policy suggests that Goa has "good basic healthcare infrastructure" to cater to the segment. But more needs to be done, the draft Policy says.
The Policy also says that "attracting high-end visitors will mean creation of infrastructure and facilities, which in turn will provide gainful employment for Goa's youth.
The current disparity in the proportion of low-end to high-end hotels will be made up by encouraging more boutique and luxury hotels in the state".
The increased focus on high-end tourists also comes with the inevitable requirement of creating high-value tourism products, which should include oceanariums, theme parks, shopping malls, entertainment centres, high-end water sports and adventure sports, the Policy notes.
The Policy that has just been put in public domain for suggestions has outlined the importance of Medical Tourism in taking forward Goa's story.
"The government targets granting permissions to starred hotels, across categories, to a cumulative additional capacity of around 8,000 beds in the next five years," says the Policy.
"While Medical Tourism is growing in Goa, the government is keen to attract investments in new facilities and draw more medical tourists to Goa for high-end and complicated procedures.
For Medical Tourism to take off in a big way, uniformity and quality of services offered are critical," the Policy says, recommending several steps that the Goa government could take to beef itself up in the Medical Tourism sector.
The recommendations include setting up of large healthcare facilities to meet the needs of increasing medical tourists, mandatory registration with the Directorate of Health Services and the Goa Medical Council for facilities offering Medical Tourism and a rate card and details of facilities to be offered.
Also mooted is a government portal with details of each healthcare facility and which will serve as a liaison between patients and doctors and medical facilities.
Drop a comment
Previous Comments
ADD THE AGRICULTURE/FARM/GREENERY SITES. LET THE TOURIST ENJOY GREENERY LOOK OF GOA.
- JOSE ROD, GOA | 22 nd August 2013 16:11
Latest News
- Half of the Covid deaths in Sept, Max in Salcete, spreading in the hinterland
- ILLEGAL TOURISM EXPOSED
- A victim boy exploited by women, ‘Juze’ is a real story: Miransha
- Frustrated Goan’s petition to bring Ola, Uber into Goa goes viral
- Throw out Lamanis to protect Goenkarponn: Babu
- Parrikar assures garbage-free, beggar-free, kerosene-free Goa
- Vijai, Rohan lift major portfolios, Sudin retains PWD
- Liquor shops in midland, hinterland to shut down, not towns or coastal
- "Christmas in Goa is not complete without Hindus, and Chovoth without Christians"
- Dear Modi Ji, Goa is Positive, But Tourism Feels the Cash Crunch
Tourism
- Shifting all casinos on-shore in 3 years; Goans to be debarred: Parrikar
- Throw out Lamanis to protect Goenkarponn: Babu
- Shack owners threaten to show black flags to PM
- Cabral shifts hot air baloon to his constituency in South Goa
- Russians voted from Goa for Parliamentary poll
- Sunburn to shift from Goa to Mumbai or Delhi?
- Goa to find legal course to debar foreigners from running business
- Not Goa, TN is favourite destination of foreigners
- Ravi seeks ban on Nigerians, calls them Negroes
- Kejri makes BJP leaders fight over drug trade of Goa
