Goa achieved yet another milestone at the recently concluded National Tourism Awards (NTA) held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, by bagging the prestigious National Tourism Award in the category of Comprehensive Development of Tourism (Rest of India) for the year 2016-17.
The award was presented by the Hon’ble Union Minister for Tourism, KJ Alphons, and was received by the Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Government of Goa, Manohar Ajgaonkar, along with Managing Director of GTDC, Nikhil Desai, in the distinguished presence of Secretary Tourism, Govt. of India, Rashmi Verma.
This is the second year in a row that Goa has bagged a prestigious National Tourism Award. This is also the second time Goa has bagged an NTA in the category of Comprehensive Development of Tourism (Rest of India). The glittering ceremony coincided with the occasion of World Tourism Day, 2018.
Goa’s selection for the award comes as a result of a well-documented submission on the State’s achievements in tourism over the last six years. The state has achieved fruitful results in various sectors, be it infrastructure development, commissioning of tourism projects, launching of tourism products and services, initiatives taken on safety and security, cleanliness and hygiene, policies, marketing and promotion, events and activities and so on.
On receiving the award, the Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Manohar Ajgaonkar, said, “It is truly an honour for Goa to receive such a prestigious award for the second year, especially in the area of Comprehensive Development of Tourism. Over the past one year, I have been closely monitoring various aspects of tourism development, and it is noteworthy that a lot of efforts is being undertaken in the State towards overall development of tourism. This is helping the State to attract more tourists as we have grown not only in numbers but in terms of infrastructure, initiatives of all kinds and strengthened measures for safety of tourists and providing a clean environment.”
He added, “I thank each and every tourism stakeholder who has contributed towards helping Goa Tourism achieve this milestone, and I congratulate all the Goa Tourism officials who have worked hard to execute plans, policies and projects, which has put us in a spotlight. I also thank the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa, Manohar Parrikar, and Minister for Power & Chairman of Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), Nilesh Cabral, for their wholehearted support and co-operation in helping Goa Tourism reach great heights.”
Photo Caption: Hon’ble Union Minister for Tourism, KJ Alphons, presenting the prestigious National Tourism Award in the category of Comprehensive Development of Tourism (Rest of India) for the year 2016-17 to Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Govt. of Goa, Manohar Ajgaonkar, along with Managing Director of GTDC, Nikhil Desai, in the distinguished presence of Secretary Tourism, Govt. of India, Rashmi Verma.
