GOA
Home | Goa
Ensconced on the slopes of the Western ghats (Sahyadri ranges) Goa is bounded on the North by Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra, on the East by Belgaum, on the South by Karwar district of Kamataka and on the West by Arabian Sea. Its rivers, Tiracol,Chapora, Mandovi, Zuari, Sal and Talpona, which are navigable throughout the year, have their origin in the Sahyadri ranges and flow westward into the Arabian Sea, 60 kms. away, breaking the long coast line covering a length of 105 kms. into enchanting estuaries and bays which mark off idyllic palm-fringed beaches like Arambol, Vagator,Atijuna, Baga and Calangute in the North and Colva. Betui and Palolem in the South.
Goa, a tiny emerald land on the West Coast of India, with its natural scenic beauty, attractive beaches and temples famous for its architecture, feasts and festivals and above all hospitable people with a rich cultural milieu, has an ideal tourist profile.
Although, Goa joined national mainstream only after 14-years of the country's independence, tourist traffic to Goa registered such phenomenal growth that from 2.00 lakhs tourists in 1975 the figure has shot up to 11.26 lakhs in 1996 of which domestic tourists comprise 8.88 lakhs and foreigners account for 2.37 lakhs including almost 73,000 through charter flights from U.K. Germany. Switzerland, Finland. As on today, the total bed capacity stands at 21,000 beds, of which the public sector account for 10% with the rest in the private sector. With the projected rise in tourist traffic to 14 lakhs by the turn of century, the bed capacity would require further augmentation of at least 20 thousand.
Conscious of preservation and conservation of environment, ecology and arrchitecture, the State Government had decided that no construction or development shall be permitted on the sandy stretches with 200 meters of High Tide Line in general. Further, such development is subject to the restrictions laid down by the Government of India under the Environment Protection Act and Regulations.
