Helicopter tourism next big thing for Goa: Kamat
March 18th, 2011 - 12:25 am ICT by IANSPanaji, March 17 (IANS) Helicopter tourism might soon be the next big thing in Goa, Chief minister Digambar Kamat said in his budget speech Thursday.
“It is felt that helicopter tourism will be ideal for the development of tourism in the hinterlands, as this is a need of the tourists and also demand of the high net-worth individuals for faster and speedy transport,” Kamat said.
The chief minister said that heli-tourism could also be cross utilised, by using the same infrastructure for setting up a network of emergency services and air ambulances.
“It has a huge potential for revenue generation,” Kamat said, adding that the proposed helicopter service would be started in partnership with private operators.
Kamat said that a central government grant of Rs.75 lakh would be utilized for construction of heliports and helipads at various strategic places throughout the state.
Tourism is a major industry in Goa, which is known for its sunny beaches and idyllic environs. The state attracts nearly 2.5 million tourists annually, which includes half a million foreign tourists.
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