In a bid to attract quality and thrill-seeking tourists, the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has planned two new ventures – nautical tours and a shooting range – in the villages of Morjim and Mandrem in Pernem taluka.
Both ventures will be inaugurated at the end of December or the beginning of January 2023, informed GTDC.
The nautical tours will be organised on the Chapora River in Morjim where tourists will get to experience kayaking and yacht rides.
Some private companies have already started kayaking on the Chapora River, but the GTDC venture will be on a bigger scale. The package for kayaking will be in the range of Rs 1320 to Rs 4000, while for yachting it will be from Rs 1320 to Rs 5000.
In the second stage, GTDC is planning on starting kayaking at Dona Paula.
Before the beginning of the Morjim venture, six trainers and lifeguards will be appointed. Konkan Nautical Pvt Ltd Company has been given the contract to run this venture.
The Mandrem village venture will have a 25 to 50-metre distance shooting range for those who are interested in indulging in the thrill and experience of the game. Yash Shooting Academy has been given the contract to run this venture.
The ventures will be run on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis. The appointed private company will finance the whole venture and pay some fixed amount or a 5 per cent share of total earnings (whichever is more) to GTDC. The GTDC will not be spending any money on these ventures, but will only help the company in marketing.
The department is encouraging adventure tourism and planning many ventures of the type in Mandrem and Morjim to attract tourists.
Goa has to compete with other states, hence GTDC has realised there is a need to come up with such activities on a PPP basis, said Nikhil Desai, Director of Tourism.