Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that the casinos are “one of the important” part of the tourism of the state as it attracts several tourists, who would like to visit it.
“During one of the media interview I was asked whether I support Casinos. Casinos is one of the important part of the tourism. Of course it is there,” Sawant said while talking during the launching of various projects under ‘Swades Darshan’ scheme of union tourism ministry.
Union Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel was also present on the occasion.
Sawant said that after closing of the mining, tourism is the only industry in the state which is surviving. “We are getting direct and indirect revenue from the tourism industry. Now it depends on the stakeholders how to grow the industry, while government can provide necessary infrastructure for them,” the chief minister said.
Sawant said that the state government with the help of centre has managed to create almost 60-70 per cent infrastructure required for the tourism industry in Goa. “We want to make it to hundred percent,” he said.
Stating that while thrust has always been given to beaches and religious places in the tourism sector, the chief minister said that medical tourism is one segment where there is immense potential for growth.
He said that the state government will amend existing Tourist Trade Act to encourage medical tourism segment.
Sawant also said that the existing tourism sector in Goa has been dominated by non-Goans who contribute for almost more than 50 per cent of the workforce or investors.
“We want more Goans to get involved in tourism sector. We have lost several of our industrial sectors to non-Goans and we are facing bad consequences about it,” he added.
