GTDC makes turn around, poised for growth with ambitious plans

Panaji, Sep 22 (UNI) The state-owned Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has registered a dramatic turn around during 2005-06 by posting a net profit of Rs 24.64 lakh as against Rs 4.69 lakh in the previous fiscal.

''We are poised for a stubborn and stable eight per cent annual growth from now onwards, with more ambitious plans for strengthening tourism infrastructure in Goa where tourist inflow has been on rise every year,'' said GTDC chairperson Fatima d'Sa.

Interacting with the mediapersons after presiding over the board of directors meeting which approved the balance sheet and profit/loss account for the year 2005-06, Mrs d'Sa said the Corporation had made a turnover of Rs 12.24 crore in the fiscal as against Rs 11.13 crore in the previous fiscal.

The turnaround which is the first one in GTDC's history, was possible due to several steps taken to plug leakages and by introducing more packages to attract tourists.

She said the Board had approved sanctioning of Diwali bonus to the tune of 10 per cent of the basic pay of its employees as against 8.33 per cent in the previous year.

The Board, she said, had also cleared a multi-billion rupee project to build a state-of-the-art ''Tourism Complex'' at Patto in the city with modern design and architecture with funds from the state government.

The Paryatan Bhawan would house apart from the GTDC and state tourism department, offices of other state tourism development corporations. It will also house some 10 to 15 government departments, she said.

Ms D'Sa said this would serve as a one-stop shop and hub for all tourist-related activities, with it acting as a facilitation centre.

At present, different state tourism development offices are spread across at different places in the state.

Efforts would be made to build the complex as early as possible after the design was made and approved through renowned consultants.

The Board had also cleared another scheme of development and beautification of the places around the famous ''Pomburfa'' natural spring in North Goa, 12 km away from the capital, at a cost of Rs 70 lakh.

A herbal garden would come up in the vicinity as a tourist attraction, even as the spring water had been used for eye-disorders for ages.

It had also approved of another project to build a 40-bedded residency hotel at Paloleim in South Goa' Cancona area with a swimming pool, increasing total bed-strength under the GTDC hotels to 585.

This would facilitate a host of tourists, besides the vehicle drivers of the tourists thronging the place as a separate dormitory facility would be developed for them.

Efforts would also be made to raise the status of the existing accommodation facilities at Miramar, Calangute and Colva to three-star by building swimming pools, she added.

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