Panaji: State govt has approved the demarcation of 1 lakh sqm at Ambaulim, Quepem, as an Investment Promotion Area (IPA) for an eco-tourism project featuring cottages and a wellness centre. The project is touted to boost Goa’s high-end luxury tourism segment and generate employment for 100-125 people over the next five years.Secretary (industries, trade and commerce) Santosh Sukhadeve said Goa’s strong hospitality heritage, besides being a relaxing holiday destination, offers opportunities for eco-tourism, sun-and-sand tourism, and heritage and cultural tourism. Sukhadeve said Goa is among the few Indian destinations witnessing consistently rising occupancy in star-category hotels.“This project will result in increased footprint in the “high-end luxury” tourism in Goa. This will lead to increased forex earnings as most customers are expected from foreign countries. The project will result in increased banking services and sourcing of consumables and also will execute various CSR activities, thus contributing heavily to the development of the locality and its people,” he said.Goa investment promotion and facilitation board received an application from R Silva & Sons to set up an eco-tourism project at Ambaulim and recommended govt to demarcate and notify the project area as an IPA. The board then granted in-principle approval for the eco-tourism project.Govt has invited objections to the proposal, asking them to be submitted in writing to the director of industries, trade and commerce (DITC) within one month of its publication in the Official Gazette. It appointed Goa-IDC managing director P Pravimal Abhishek to hear the objections, as the DITC director also holds charge as CEO of the Goa-IPB.After conducting hearings, the director submitted a report to govt, which rejected the objections as invalid and directed the industries department to declare the area an IPA.
