Panaji: Tourism Minister Manohar Azgaonkar today slammed the Congress party for the baseless allegations surrounding the official visit to USA for road show.
Congress had charged that the minister’s family had accompanied the tourism officials’ delegation to the US at the cost of the State and demanded refund to the government.
In a press statement issued today, Azgaonkar admitted that some of his family members accompanied him but at their own expense and the entire expenditure is transparent.
“Participation at international Trade Fairs and organizing of international roadshows is one of the primary functions of the Tourism Department in promotion of Goa Tourism internationally and that he is firmly committed on improving the tourism sector in Goa and efforts are on to bring in quality tourists to the State from niche markets,” he said.
Azgaonkar also stated that the road shows across the world are being held for past many years including during the Congress regime.
“Concerted efforts are required to be put in to bring in tourists especially from such countries where we receive less footfalls. This is not the first time that such international road shows have been organized and the Tourism Dept. has been organizing such road shows in the past including during the time of the Congress regime,” he said.
He further said that there is 100 per cent transparency in the functioning of the Department of Tourism and anyone seeking information can obtain the same any time. The Department of Tourism, further points out that the delegation who visited the US conducted several B2B sessions and interactions with travel and tour operators, media, and members of Travel Trade and have received encouraging responses.
