PERMANENT FEATURE -  GOA   BACK

DUDHSAGAR TRAIN SERVICE STARTS AGAIN: The earlier discontinued service starts again on 10 July. A coach is being attached to the Amravati Express to leave for this scenic waterfall, costing Rs. 600 per person (includes return fare, breakfast & lunch) for a same day trip. Tour starts from Margao at 0715 and returns from Dudhsagar at 1635 hrs. The capacity of coach is 108 seats.

GOA AT ITS BEST DURING MONSOON: People visiting Goa have something more to experience other than the sun-soaked beaches.
A large number of domestic and foreign tourists flock the "Riviera of the East" to witness heavy rains in the summer, at a time when the northern part of India reels under a heat wave.

Visitors say that the state is at its romantic best during the monsoon as they could laze around, listening to the pitter-patter of raindrops on the thatched roofs of huts made specially for the tourists. The rains in Goa are different from that of other parts of the country as one could enjoy it in the backdrop of nice beaches and greenery.

The rains here have a cooling effect and are enjoyable. The southwest or summer monsoon arrived early and brought plentiful rainfall in Kerala and Goa and other parts of India's peninsular region. Monsoons, though vital for the Indian economy, have so far been a wet blanket for the tourism industry dropping hotel and resort occupancies by nearly 50 per cent and nose diving revenues for travel and tour operators servicing the domestic segment.

GOA TO HOST PORTUGUESE, SPANIARDS: Goa is likely to receive charters from new markets like Austria, Iran, Sweden, Portugal and Spain or at least from some of them during the next tourist season beginning October-November. The government as well as the trade seems keen to cash in on the Exposition of the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier. Sources said that of the 3.2 lakh foreign tourist arrival in Goa in 2003, Portuguese nationals were just 6,000.

GOLF COURSES AT BETUL, ASHVEM: UK-based Professional Golfers' Association (PGA, Dc), a consultancy firm engaged by the State government, has recommended Betul and Ashvem as sites for golf courses. The proposed sites of international standard are 18-hole ones.

SAO JOAO FEAST CELEBRATED WITH GREAT FERVOUR: At Siolim in particular and entire Goa in general, the feast of St. John the Baptist was celebrated. This is to commemorate the prophet who announced the coming of Jesus Christ and baptised him in the river Jordan. Apart from traditional jumping in the well or river, colourful traditional boat shows are organized. Boatmen sing the traditional songs as they sail down the rivulet of Chapora up to the cross of the Siolim church. This is a great tourist attraction in the rains.

DE SOUZA GROUP PLANS HERITAGE HOTELS IN KERALA: The group has identified four heritage houses – two each in Jaipur and udaipur and a few in Alleppey in Kerala. It would be fist wholly owned Goan company with properties in Goa to venture out in running hotels outside Goa. They are the owners of Sun Village in Goa.

GOA TOURISM (GTDC) PLANS A FLOATING RESTAURAT: Buoyant with the upbeat tourist arrivals, GTDC has now decided to start a floating restaurant on board its vessel Shantadurga, which will be launched in a month or two. The other vessel Santa Monica makes regular evening sunset and other cruises along the Mandovi river with its on board folk & Portuguese dance performance.

IFFI CELEBRATIONS IN GOA: Dates for International Film Festival of India are fixed as 29 Nov – 9 Dec’04. BACK