March 3, 2017 TnH Global

MPT expects 100 cruise vessels in future

The Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) expects around 100 cruise vessels with high-end tourists from various countries to visit Goa in future.Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of inauguration of the prepaid tourist taxi counter at international cruise berth terminal at Mormugao Harbour on Wednesday, MPT Chairman I Jeyakumar said, “During the current tourism season we received around 40 cruise vessels as against 29 such vessels the previous year and the way number of cruise vessels has been showing interest in visiting Goa, we are pretty confident that next season we would be receiving about 60 vessels. And in years to come the number of cruise vessels planning to visit Goa every season would increase to 100. We are presently coordinating with Mumbai Port to get more and more cruise liners to Goa” he said.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday MPT resolved one of the major issues by providing prepaid tourist taxi counter at international cruise terminal. In absence of such facility there were instances in past where tourist taxi operators and tour operators were seen confronting each other over rates charged to the tourists. Now, at the new counter, rates will be charged by the tourist taxi operators, which have been approved by the state government.“We have decided that the Sada Tourist Taxi Association will be operating the prepaid counter and we have been assured by the association that they would provide adequate taxis to the tourists with a condition to maintain reasonable price. Apart from tourist taxi, we have also made provisions for 23 coaches that would take tourists for sightseeing of important tourist places in Goa,” he informed.

Commenting on other proposals received by MPT, Jeyakumar said, “A proposal for dedicated berths for Indian Navy and Coast Guard has been received for which MPT in principal has agreed to the proposal to construct 600 metres length berths next to the breakwater. He, however, clarified that the final decision on the proposal will be taken at the Board of Trustees meeting, which will be held shortly. Initially, our plan was to construct dedicated cargo berths in the area next to break waters. However, now as Ministry of Defence has forwarded their proposal, we would construct an exclusive berth for Indian Navy and Coast Guard.

News Source: goacom.com