The government has already floated an expression of interest to engage a consultant who will not only formulate a tourism master plan for Goa but will also advise the government on constituting a tourism promotion board, official sources said.

This is one of the various steps taken by the government to boost tourist footfalls to Goa. The tourism industry in Goa has been demanding a tourism promotion board for the state. To be created through legislation, it will be an advisory body to the government. It will undertake short-term and long-term planning in tourism and identify projects for the promotion of tourism in Goa. The formation of a tourism promotion board was also assured by chief minister Manohar Parrikar in his budget speech last year (2012). 

The tourism department has empanelled 14 project management consultants for development of properties of the tourism department and the Goa tourism development corporation(GTDC), which has been designated as a special purpose vehicle for implementation of centrally and state funded projects in a time bound manner.

The tourism department is now considering setting up a PGA standard golf course and allied hospitality activities, luxury cruise/floatel to boost quality tourists through private sector participation in North Goa for which the government is trying to obtain central funds.

Sources said that government has already initiated steps for development of tourism infrastructure projects like heli-tourism, amphibian aircraft, Colva coastal circuit, Baga coastal circuit, Goa Haat, convention centre, institute of hotel management at Farmaguddi, etc.

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