Panji, Oct 27 (TNN): Arrival of direct flights from Israel to Goa and vice versa, at least once a week, setting up of a tourism college in the state with a tie-up with Israel's tourism university, harnessing the Middle-Eastern country's expertise in dairy farming to nearly double Goa's milk production are some benefits Goa is set to reap after a state delegation led by deputy chief minister Francisco D'Souza visited Israel recently.
"Scheduled flights operate between Mumbai and Israel once everyday. So we have asked that these flights arrive in Goa at least once a week, instead of Mumbai. We interacted with the tourism minister of Israel on our visit and he said he will pursue the matter with the civil aviation minister and revert to us. We have conveyed to them that Goa, having a substantial Catholic population, and the flights will get sizable numbers for travel to the holyland for worship," former Goa chamber of commerce and industry president Manguirish Pai Raikar told mediapersons on Saturday. Before the end of the year, Goa and Israel will seal a flight schedule to and from Goa, he said.
He said that a delegation from Israel has already been appointed to process the business tie-ups discussed with Goa and will arrive next month in the state.
"Diploma courses will be offered by the Israeli agriculture university in Goa and certificates will be issued by the Israel university, for which Goa will have to pay royalty. The delegation to arrive in Goa is also looking forward to interacting with Goa University over introducing other specialized courses there. A tourism college is also being planned in Goa in a tie-up with the Israel tourism university. The Goa institute will either be funded by the government or we already have a willing private player to set it up," Raikar said.
Israel will share its expertise with Goa on how to attract high-end tourists and how to develop hinterland tourism by using large community farms as an attraction, as done in Israel where fresh farm produce is also served to tourists.
"Experts from Israel have already visited Netravalli in Goa and worked out how diary output can be increased. Experts from Israel will conduct training for Goa's dairy farmers. They have told us that our cattle's milk output will increase from two to five litres a day to 15 to 16 litres by taking simple measures like controlling water and feed to them and raising the height of their shelter's roof. Our dairy farmers will also learn how to retain the nutrition of the milk during the one to two hours that it takes to reach the dairy by setting up plants next to the cowsheds as is being done in Israel," Raikar said.
Green farming expertise will also be shared with Goa, where the farmers will learn how to use organic base and develop horticulture to meet the rising needs of the food industry in Goa with the increase of tourists.