Panaji, May 8 (IANS) In a bid to attract high-spending tourists to the state, the Goa tourism department is considering the development of two full-fledged golf courses in north Goa, a top official said.
Speaking to IANS, Director Tourism Swapnil Naik said that a Professional Golfer's Association (PGA) project, promoted by real estate major DLF, in partnership with a local hospitality firm, was being considered by the state government, in addition to an existing project.
"DLF had come to us with a proposal but there were some litigation issues regarding the land on which they were proposed to develop it. We have asked them to come back to us with the proposal," Naik said.
He said that the DLF-promoted golf course could come up at the picturesque village of Palyem -- a stone's throw from yet another proposed golf course, being promoted by the international hospitality group, Four Seasons.
"We have already given them the acceptance letter. They are supposed to complete the formalities for setting up the golf course. Leading Hotels and Four Seasons group, which are jointly promoting the PGA standard golf course near the Goa-Maharashtra border, have been asked to pay a bank guarantee of Rs.1 crore," Naik said.
While most part of the golf course, spread over 150 acres, is located in Goa, part of it is geographically located in Maharashtra.
Gaurish Dhond, president of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), said that the golf course would enhance Goa's tourism profile, which until now was only limited to backpack tourists and low-budget charter tourists from Europe.
The golf course proposed by Four Seasons on a public private partnership (PPP) basis, has already been opposed by the local villagers of Tiracol, a Goan village which borders Maharashtra along the northern border. The proposed Four Seasons golf course is conceived on the plateau overlooking the village.
Diogo Rodrigues, who is one of the protestors, said: "We are already facing water and power shortage. Instead of restoring these problems, a golf course is being dumped on us. We don't want the project."
The Tiracol village panchayat has also passed a resolution demanding scrapping of the golf course project.