Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Oct 16: The cabinet on Wednesday, October 14 signalled green light for the state tourism policy which calls for creation of high-quality infrastructure and facilities that would attract high end tourists to Goa's hinterland. The Tourism Masterplan and Tourism policy 2020 has signified nature-based tourism and cultural tourism as one of the many pillars for the state to reinvent itself as a tourist destination.

The masterplan states that ecologically sustainable and environmentally sound practices would be adopted for the nature-based tourism development and calls for nature clusters comprising key natural or cultural assets to be set up in the state's ecologically sensitive areas.

Focussing on nature and cultural aspects would attract high-end tourists to the state and also increase the duration of their stay.

In the already existing river cruises, the policy recommended that the entire inland waterway network be explored with an emphasis on eco-friendly operations for hinterland exploration. "Conservation, regeneration and promotion of Goan culture and heritage is one of the key initiatives. Goa tourism board would identify essential infrastructure and public amenity requirements for identified tourism assets of historical and cultural importance," the policy states.