Official Press Release from Department of Tourism,
Government of Goa dated 1 Nov 2001 re: WORLD TRAVEL
MARKET now ongoing at the Earls Court, London.

Goa - a Safe Haven

Goa is one of the safest destinations for outbound travel in Asia. With a strong Government spearheaded by Mr.Manohar Parrikar, the state is moving forwards by leaps and bounds. The population of mainly Hindus and Christians have been living togther in perfect
harmony for centuries.

The Tourism Department of Goa under the able guidance of Mr. N. Suryanarayana and Asst Director Mr. A. Pereira have taken the initiative to take the State''s tourism to even greater heights. One of the companies that is recognised by the Department of Tourism Goa,is Trans Orient Holidays plc who will also be exhibiting at the WTM in the Goa section of the India pavilion. Trans Orient Holidays plc is one of India''s fastest growing tour operators / travel agents in India. The parent Company of Trans Orient Holidays namely , the de Souza Group also owns and operates 4 resorts and hotels in Goa. Trans Orient has a network of offices all over India, including Kerala and New Delhi, which enable them to cater to individual needs of a variety of needs of FIT/GIT pax as well as charter tourists anywhere in India and Nepal.

Besides handling individuals and group movements from Canada, Portugal, Scandinavian and eastern European countries, Trans Orient Holidays will be handling over 20000 pax for this season. Trans Orient have excellent contacts with hotels all over India and Nepal and could assist with good rates as well as ground handling. They also have excellent contacts with all levels of Government in New Delhi, for charter permissions etc. At the local Goa level they have contacts with all political and administrative levels.

Trans Orient can provide the entire range of very cost efficient services from hotels and ground handling arrangements all over India and Nepal, to charter aircraft handling / permissions. Trans Orient see themselves as potential partners with tour operators and travel agents to both North and South India as well as Nepal, who can provide a synergy of the best aspects of each organisation, working together to develop and expand, efficient and cost effective programs to Goa and India .

Images can be viewed at http://community.webshots.com/album/25265934BJoQdVnOgx
 

Their address is :-
Trans Orient Holidays plc
312-314, Citicentre, EDC Patto Plaza,
Panjim, Goa 403 001, India
Tel + 91- 832 -229724 / 25   Fax + 91- 832 -229723
Email torient@goatelecom.com

Website: www.worldtravelmart.co.uk.

Pictures courtesy: Rene Baretto.
 

Gomantak Times/8 November 2001

24-hour landing facility at Dabolim by next week

PANAJI: The Dabolim airport will be kept open round the clock for landing of flights by next week, according to Chief Secretary Baleshwar Rai.

Rai was speaking at the interaction on `Tourism and Police' organised at the police headquarters, Panaji yesterday.

The meeting was attended by Director General of Police (DGP) Gurucharan Singh Sandhu, DIG P K Srivastava, Secretary (Tourism) Vikram Dev Dutt, Director of Tourism N Suryanarayanan, GTDC managing director P Shetye, Herald editor Rajan Narayan and
representatives of tourist taxis, yellow and black taxis and shack owners.

In his address, Rai said that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) recently held a meeting of officers of the Civil Aviation, defence, tourism and other departments at New Delhi to discuss the issue of allowing a 24-hour landing at the Dabolim airport. He said that a decision has been already arrived at and would be implemented from next week.

The chief secretary further said that the state government is considering another dimension to the tourist police by sanctioning some boats to patrol the water front. With the introduction of patrol boats, the state would be in a better position to ensure help
and security to the tourists.

The state government has also decided to set up two fire stations in the coastal areas of Calangute and Colva while efforts are on to make the Goa-Bangalore `Shatabdi Express'

train a daily affair. At present, it is operating twice a week. Also plans are afoot to start Goa-Mumbai `Shatabdi Express' train after removing all the constraints.

Goa was not affected by the air strikes in Afghanistan and that all charters were coming on schedule.

The issue of touts was also discussed and it was informed that the government has decided to impose a heavy fine on touts. For the convenience of tourists, the participants suggested that the public transport system be extended during night hours particularly in coastal areas.

GTDC managing director P Shetye requested the police to post more policemen below the old Mandovi bridge to streamline traffic during rush hours at the Santa Monica boat cruises spot. Director of Tourism N Suryanarayan said that the Goa Tourism Trade Act has been amended and hoped that there will be a definite change during the coming tourist season.

DIG (CID/Crime) P K Srivastava disclosed the various steps taken by the police during the tourist season and appealed to all including media to lend their voices to raise level of awareness among the general people and help police to fight against evils and in
making Goa a better tourist destination. Herald editor Rajan Narayan also made valuable suggestions.

Earlier, SP (CID/Traffic) Devesh Srivastava gave introductory remarks and later proposed a vote of thanks.

 

Germany-Goa link after 8 years

PANAJI: The tourism industry which is witnessing a slack season this year is likely to receive a slight spurt with the decision of German holiday carrier Condor to resume its services to Goa after a gap of eight years.

The leisure carrier, which is part of Thomas Cook AG - now Europe's second biggest leisure group - will offer a weekly link between Frankfurt and Goa.

According to a press note, the largest leisure carrier will operate a flight (Boeing 757-200) every Saturday, leaving Frankfurt at 5.45 pm and arriving at Dabolim at 9.20 am on Sunday.

It has a capacity of 217 seats. The return flight departs from Goa every Sunday at 11.34 am and arrives in Frankfurt at 6.20 pm.

Condor's decision to resume services to India for this winter season follows a growing demand for this region, specially from Germany, according to the press note.

Frankfurt, the home base to both Condor and scheduled carrier Lufthansa, was chosen as the ideal departure airport in Europe as it offers convenient connections to and from all major airports in Germany and from European airports as well.

Condor was the first charter operator to make Goa a touristic and leisure destination. Thomas Cook tour operators Neckermann and Terramar both from Germany, and Condor Individual (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) are all offering holidays using this new flight.

Moreover, the UK tour operators of Thomas Cook holidays and JMC, both offer holidays to Goa, using direct flights from UK. Condor is represented in Goa by Cicerone Air Transport Services with Joao Xavier (Bush) Miranda as the resident manager.