From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Dec 1: Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), a premiere tourism board in India which has been the forerunner for many new tourism initiatives, products and services, is today at the forefront of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘cashless India’ mission. Following 31, 2016, Goa Tourism Development Corporation has already taken the lead bringing all tourism business’ under the ambit of cashless transactions.

Whether hotel reservations, package tours, cruise rides or any other tourism service, GTDC has introduced systems that have facilitated cashless transactions, both on-line and off-line.

Cashless facility is made possible by GTDC through online web portal, booking of services and products through mobile app available on iOS and android platform at GTDC residencies and restaurants through point-of-sale (POS) machines thus enabling a 360 degree approach to the new cashless system.

The GTDC is also working to introduce pay wallets and talks are underway with leading pay wallet providers so that pay wallets can be accepted as another mode of cashless payments.

The Santa Monica Jetty also offers payments through credit cards and debit cards.

To further this process, the launch of the new e-commerce portal and mobile app in February this year has provided a full proof platform for e-business and cashless transactions also bringing other tourism stakeholders into the cashless circuit.

Official records from the GTDC reveal that cashless transactions to the tune of Rs 2.5 lac to Rs 3 lac are executed daily for various services provided by the GTDC which is in addition to cashless transactions recorded on GTDC’s e-commerce portal and mobile app.
Gavin Dias, general manager (hotels)- GTDC said, “All GTDC residencies are provided with point-of-sale (POS) machines to facilitate cashless payments and most tourists prefer to use this facility. It is encouraging to see tourists opting for cashless transactions.” Dias added that in the months to come GTDC’s cashless systems will be an exemplary one for other departments to emulate.

Dias pointed out that in addition to cashless business for GTDC’s hotel accommodation, GTDC through the e-commerce portal has direct tie ups with more than 160 hotels and also has tie ups with channel managers like Staah and Maximojo for tourists to book accommodation using cashless modes of transactions.

He further added that cashless transactions has already become very popular and an easy way out for both tourists and tourism stakeholders.
Goa attracts more than 5 million tourists annually and Goa Tourism and GTDC is eventually looking at bringing in every tourism stakeholder whether tourist taxis, souvenir shops, guest houses, restaurants etc under cashless business.

Nilesh Cabral, chairman of Goa Tourism Development Corporation said, “Goa Tourism Development Corporation moves ahead of time and we have one more feather in our cap. I am extremely pleased that GTDC introduced cashless transactions several months ago. Today the world has already logged in to cashless processes and India would have eventually introduced the same. GTDC has succeeded in professionalizing the services through cashless systems and we are fully geared to deal with it post December 31.”