Chorao, Chandor, Bandora among five villages to be developed as tourism villages at Rs 2.5cr

Panaji: Under the Centre’s Tourism Village Development Scheme 2021, the tourism department has identified five villages in the state to develop as tourism villages. Under this scheme, the tourism department, in consultation with the respective panchayats, will build tourism amenities to harness the tourism potential of the villages at an approximate cost of Rs 2.5 crore.The tourism department intends to build a multi-purpose hall in each of the five villages where local fairs, festivals, live performances, and other events will be held. The five villages are Cotigao, Bandora, Chandor, Chorao, and Sal. In 2023, Cotigao was awarded the best tourism village of India, while in 2024, Bandora received the same award in the wellness category.Initially, in 2023, the villages of Goltim-Navelim on Divar Island, Chorao, Cotigao, Bandora, and Vere-Vaghurme were being considered to be developed as tourist villages. “The idea of tourist villages fits in with the move to expand tourism away from the coastline, which is already crowded. We want to promote heritage, rural areas, and the hinterland through these villages,” said a GTDC official.To take the initiative forward, the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has moved to appoint a consultant who will prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the five villages. The appointed consultant will be responsible for the project from the conceptual stage to completion, including securing statutory approvals and govt grants.

Each village will receive Rs 50 lakh under the scheme, with additional funding considered on a case-by-case basis. Tourism department officials said that whatever infrastructure comes up in the villages will comply with all local building bylaws and zoning regulations. The department plans to construct stalls to promote local handicrafts, tourist information counters, gazebos, and seating arrangements.A GTDC official said the panchayats will be consulted before the conceptual plans are finalised. “The goal is to showcase rural Goa, traditional art forms, pre-Portuguese heritage, and culture,” the official said.