Re: [Goanet]Cheapie Brits visiting Goa along their butlers, chefs and cooks
Fred, It is very charitable and convenient for you to dismiss ridiculous statements by the Union Tourism Minister as hyperbole. Regarding the tourism benefits, one need hardly dwell on the trickle down effects. What are your own views on the tourism sector? It appears to favour differential pricing for foreign tourists to Goa and subsidies for Indian tourists abroad. So, who is being defensive about a situation which would be to who's advantage? This issue has been debated in this forum before and it is indeed time to call a spade a spade. I recall you previously sympathised with a well known Goa environmentalist who resented that foreign tourists complained of overcharging - being charged Rs 13 for a bottle of water marked Rs 12 was his specific example. Also, there was the claim that the tourists should not use buses but taxis because the public transport services in Goa are under strain. In London we too have to face foreign nationals buying up property and pushing up prices. Also we have tourists putting a strain on the transport network. Have I read you correctly? It would be useful if you could indicate your views. Cheers, Eddie Fernandes == - Original Message - From: Frederick Noronha(FN) [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: goanet@goanet.org Sent: Friday, December 24, 2004 8:24 PM Subject: Re: [Goanet]Cheapie Brits visiting Goa along their butlers, chefs and cooks On Fri, 24 Dec 2004, Eddie Fernandes wrote: No one has questioned the claim by India's Union Tourism Minister that British visit Goa with their chefs, cooks and butlers and enjoy a cheap holiday. In the UK, it is only the multi-millionaires who can afford to employ chefs and butlers and the amount they spend in renting a villa outstrips the expenditure by any other class of tourist. The main provider of rental holiday accommodation has a website at http://www.lazydays.co.uk/ Check their rates. A villa in Nerul, for example, has a peak season rent of Rs 3 lakhs per week ( air fares are excluded) On the other hand, many middle class Indian tourists visit Goa with their cooks/maids/ayahs. Hi Eddie: A politician's hyperbole does not negate the existance of an issue, which has been debated often on Goanet (and which expats tend to view defensively, IMHO). Re the Rs 300,000 per week villa at Nerul at peak season, I wonder who's making the money. Let me know if home-owners (specially those expats who got pushed into going in for rent-backs) make anything of a fraction of this money. Also, the actual impact of tourism -- millionaires, butlers, chefs, cooks or whoever -- on the local real estate reality has not been adequately looked at. I know quite a large section of people who have put in a life of hard work and who would probably never be able to afford a decent home in Goa, thanks to the real estate boom which in significant part is tourism-generated. Are expat Goans willing to call a spade a spade, or just build arguments to be defensive over a situation which is to their advantage? Sorry for this bluntspeak. No offence meant. FN --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.809 / Virus Database: 551 - Release Date: 10/12/2004
Re: [Goanet]Cheapie Brits visiting Goa along their butlers, chefs and cooks
Point taken. I was using the term middle class in the British rather than the Indian context.Anyway, such terms are far from precise. However I have seen many Indian families holidaying in Goa together with their domestic help. By way of contrast, I have not seen any British families with their staff. Cheers, Eddie - Original Message - From: halur rasho [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: goanet@goanet.org Sent: Friday, December 24, 2004 8:05 PM Subject: Re: [Goanet]Cheapie Brits visiting Goa along their butlers, chefs and cooks On the other hand, many middle class Indian tourists visit Goa with their cooks/maids/ayahs. I do not know whether the British travel with a retinue to Goa , nor do I care. But you are utterly out of touch with middle class india, if you think they can travel with a retinue of help for holidays. --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.809 / Virus Database: 551 - Release Date: 09/12/2004
Re: [Goanet]Cheapie Brits visiting Goa along their butlers, chefs and cooks
On Fri, 24 Dec 2004, Eddie Fernandes wrote: No one has questioned the claim by India's Union Tourism Minister that British visit Goa with their chefs, cooks and butlers and enjoy a cheap holiday. In the UK, it is only the multi-millionaires who can afford to employ chefs and butlers and the amount they spend in renting a villa outstrips the expenditure by any other class of tourist. The main provider of rental holiday accommodation has a website at http://www.lazydays.co.uk/ Check their rates. A villa in Nerul, for example, has a peak season rent of Rs 3 lakhs per week ( air fares are excluded) On the other hand, many middle class Indian tourists visit Goa with their cooks/maids/ayahs. Hi Eddie: A politician's hyperbole does not negate the existance of an issue, which has been debated often on Goanet (and which expats tend to view defensively, IMHO). Re the Rs 300,000 per week villa at Nerul at peak season, I wonder who's making the money. Let me know if home-owners (specially those expats who got pushed into going in for rent-backs) make anything of a fraction of this money. Also, the actual impact of tourism -- millionaires, butlers, chefs, cooks or whoever -- on the local real estate reality has not been adequately looked at. I know quite a large section of people who have put in a life of hard work and who would probably never be able to afford a decent home in Goa, thanks to the real estate boom which in significant part is tourism-generated. Are expat Goans willing to call a spade a spade, or just build arguments to be defensive over a situation which is to their advantage? Sorry for this bluntspeak. No offence meant. FN
Re: [Goanet]Cheapie Brits visiting Goa along their butlers, chefs and cooks
Fred, The posts, including yours, seem to be going round in circles. The issue surely is that there are no objections to a surcharge if this is made explicit, even in small print, and drawn to one's attention, in whatever way possible, before one orders a meal in a restaurant to allow the tourist to decide to eat in one place or another. This did not seem to have happened in the case of Gabriel and he surely made this point, ever so clearly, not to require this circuitous series of posts. If an Indian tourist had a surcharge demanded from him, at a restaurant, without due prior notice/attention, in the UK, not only would it be illegal but the establishment would risk censure in the media and even boycott if this came to light. This is regardless of the fact that the same Indian injured crossing the road would receive free emergency medical services and of a quality equal to that for any permanent resident in the country. The point I am making is that the waters do not need to be muddied with irrelevant and extraneous arguments as has happened on this issue. Most certainly, every Western tourist knows he/she is getting agood deal in India because of the current exchange rate. Most would feel comfortable to pay extra, if necessary, as long as they do not feel ripped off. To reiterate, I don't think there is much objection to the principle of a surcharge to tourists but it is a question of how it is yanked out of them. All that is asked for, and very reasonably so, is that they get to know about any surcharge prior to the consumption of a service and not held to ransom by a hidden and undisclosed charge after the meal or whatever. This should be true in India or anywhere else, irrespective, of a country's stage of economic development. Minimally, it is an intelligent way of buying goodwill for better tips and increased tourism. Instead of going round in circles on Goanet, I think all of us would be better served if the simple points made above were drawn to the attention of the Indian Tourist Board. The global competition for tourists is intense and India cannot afford to be out on a limb. Cornel
Re: [Goanet]Cheapie Brits visiting Goa along their butlers, chefs and cooks
On the other hand, many middle class Indian tourists visit Goa with their cooks/maids/ayahs. I do not know whether the British travel with a retinue to Goa , nor do I care. But you are utterly out of touch with middle class india, if you think they can travel with a retinue of help for holidays. __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
Re: [Goanet]Cheapie Brits visiting Goa along their butlers, chefs and cooks
No one has questioned the claim by India's Union Tourism Minister that British visit Goa with their chefs, cooks and butlers and enjoy a cheap holiday. In the UK, it is only the multi-millionaires who can afford to employ chefs and butlers and the amount they spend in renting a villa outstrips the expenditure by any other class of tourist. The main provider of rental holiday accommodation has a website at http://www.lazydays.co.uk/ Check their rates. A villa in Nerul, for example, has a peak season rent of Rs 3 lakhs per week ( air fares are excluded) On the other hand, many middle class Indian tourists visit Goa with their cooks/maids/ayahs. Original Message - From: Frederick Noronha(FN) [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the case of India, this comes in the shape of an economic surcharge. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but this happens in only a very limited number of hotels, while the rail and air foreigner-rates don't add up for much. Headline: Bangloreans head to the beaches Source: 24 Dec 2004: Deccan Herald. Excerpts: People under 30 opt for Goa because of the wilder nature of celebrating ... Only 25-30 per cent of the number of rooms available in Goa are kept for the Indian tourists, as International tourists pay much in advance, says Ms Ranjini, travel consultant. Full text at: http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/dec242004/i5.asp Eddie Fernandes --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.809 / Virus Database: 551 - Release Date: 09/12/2004
Re: [Goanet]Cheapie Brits visiting Goa along their butlers, chefs and cooks
Tim, I think every country discriminates against non-nationals in some way or the other. (Trying being Indian, brown and getting a holiday visa to the US!) So what are we really complaining about? In the case of India, this comes in the shape of an economic surcharge. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but this happens in only a very limited number of hotels, while the rail and air foreigner-rates don't add up for much. On the other hand, isn't it a scam that international tourism today -- specially when involving the so-called 'developing countries' -- is premised on the fact that people from the affluent world can get an almost-free holiday in a world where a lot of people still starve or suffer from a lack of food and resources? (Don't turn around to say there are people who gain from tourism, and hence keep inviting the guests over.) FN On Thu, 23 Dec 2004, Tim de Mello wrote: The two tier system that was being discussed was the official system where non-resident Indians are charged more than local - not cheating by some. I was horrified when my wife and I visited the Taj Mahal two years back. Local residents had to pay Rs. 20/- and foreigners had to pay Rs. 750/-. This was an official charge posted on the wall - not just an official trying to fleece us. I notice now that this has been changed since. I can understand a small surcharge as is being done now to pay for upkeep, etc. - but I would have preferred if it was a voluntary contribution. Other places where this two-tier system is practiced: Hotels Rail fares Air Fares etc. Tim de Mello [EMAIL PROTECTED] CANADA
Re: [Goanet]Cheapie Brits visiting Goa along their butlers, chefs and cooks
--- Frederick Noronha(FN) I don't know who you would count as the 'commonman' of Portuguese-ruled colonial Goa, but a lot of comment that looks at those times without Lusostalgia suggests that apart from a pampered but tiny upper middle-class, the vast majority found life tough. Or would you see this as an incorrect view? FN Still off-topic, AFAIK no one died of hunger. Life was tough, yes I agree (even for some considered as the middle-class), but Lusostalgia or not, the Provedoria and other organisations and good-heartedness of the people ensured the well-being of everyone. Cheers and best wishes for a Holy and a Joyful Christmas, Gabriel. Find local movie times and trailers on Yahoo! Movies. http://au.movies.yahoo.com
Re: [Goanet]Cheapie Brits visiting Goa along their butlers, chefs and cooks
From: Frederick Noronha(FN) [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Wed, 22 Dec 2004, Gabriel de Figueiredo wrote: Fred, the issue here was we were shown one set of menus with one set of prices, and when charged, we were charged a different higher price. It would have been OK *if* we were shown the higher prices at the very start, which is when we would have made up our minds whether to eat there or not. And it wasn't a Rs 20.00 a rice plate place either - a bit more upmarket than that. That's my point! You got over-charged (read cheated). I get overcharged whenever they come to know I'm a non-local. It has nothing to do with the fact that low budget tourists don't pay luxury taxes -- which Miguel pointed out. === Fred: With all due respect, this is not the point. The two tier system that was being discussed was the official system where non-resident Indians are charged more than local - not cheating by some. I was horrified when my wife and I visited the Taj Mahal two years back. Local residents had to pay Rs. 20/- and foreigners had to pay Rs. 750/-. This was an official charge posted on the wall - not just an official trying to fleece us. I notice now that this has been changed since. I can understand a small surcharge as is being done now to pay for upkeep, etc. - but I would have preferred if it was a voluntary contribution. Other places where this two-tier system is practiced: Hotels Rail fares Air Fares etc. Tim de Mello [EMAIL PROTECTED] CANADA
Re: [Goanet]Cheapie Brits visiting Goa along their butlers, chefs and cooks
On Wed, 22 Dec 2004, Gabriel de Figueiredo wrote: Fred, the issue here was we were shown one set of menus with one set of prices, and when charged, we were charged a different higher price. It would have been OK *if* we were shown the higher prices at the very start, which is when we would have made up our minds whether to eat there or not. And it wasn't a Rs 20.00 a rice plate place either - a bit more upmarket than that. That's my point! You got over-charged (read cheated). I get overcharged whenever they come to know I'm a non-local. It has nothing to do with the fact that low budget tourists don't pay luxury taxes -- which Miguel pointed out. Here? Where? In India or in Goa? We're going completely off-track from the topic. I won't go further into details except to state that sufficient food for the common man in Goa was not a problem in the 50s, contrary to India's situation. I don't know who you would count as the 'commonman' of Portuguese-ruled colonial Goa, but a lot of comment that looks at those times without Lusostalgia suggests that apart from a pampered but tiny upper middle-class, the vast majority found life tough. Or would you see this as an incorrect view? FN
Re: [Goanet]Cheapie Brits visiting Goa along their butlers, chefs and cooks
Hi Mervyn, Many thanks for info about odd restaurant practices in Dar. I was there, off and on, many years ago but missed the unusual opportunity to be able to impress anyone when I would have loved to! I also visited Bangalore twice, more recently, but hadn't experienced nor heard about variable restaurant prices aka Gabriel. When in India, I have invariably passed off, with an adapted/localised accent, as an Indian and have not had to pay for hotel stays, in foreign currency, even when this was the 'rule' for a while, and before plastic came into greater use. On indicating when booking, that I was from Goa (with address of course) I invariably had a feeling that the thought crossed some minds that these guys from Goa are a funny lot who only speak English. But I recall one case when pestered to change money by street urchins in Bombay. When I indicated with the single word that I was Indian the shrewed little geezers simply said no no sir you are foreign Indian. And of course, most taxi drivers, the world over, immediately know when to make an extra buck or two, except perhaps in Sydney, when on two occassions I was taken free, albeit on short journeys, by most friendly Indian drivers who wanted to discover from me if they would be better of in the UK. The Aussie dollar was especially weak at the time! Cornel - Original Message - From: Mervyn Lobo Cornel, There used to be a restaurant in Dar that had the same menu with different prices. The menu given to the male had the prices they would charge. The menu given to the female had the same items with twice the prices. Needless to say, some of my dates got really impressed when taken for dinner there :-)
Re: [Goanet]Cheapie Brits visiting Goa along their butlers, chefs and cooks
--- Frederick Noronha(FN) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Firstly, given the low margins (and I'm not justifying this) in India, a lot of over-charging does take place. Not just to visitors from abroad, but even to others. I routinely get overcharged while travelling in a rickshaw in Bangalore or Mumbai. Fred, the issue here was we were shown one set of menus with one set of prices, and when charged, we were charged a different higher price. It would have been OK *if* we were shown the higher prices at the very start, which is when we would have made up our minds whether to eat there or not. And it wasn't a Rs 20.00 a rice plate place either - a bit more upmarket than that. Incidentally, talking about luxuries, entertainment (including films) was long considered a luxury in India. Perhaps this tradition goes back to the 'fifties and 'sixties, when sufficient food was a luxury even for the middle-classes here. Here? Where? In India or in Goa? We're going completely off-track from the topic. I won't go further into details except to state that sufficient food for the common man in Goa was not a problem in the 50s, contrary to India's situation. Gabriel. Find local movie times and trailers on Yahoo! Movies. http://au.movies.yahoo.com
Re: [Goanet]Cheapie Brits visiting Goa along their butlers, chefs and cooks
cornel [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I was staggered and disgusted to learn that you were effectively 'done' at a Bangalore restaurant when a payment demand was made at a tourist rate following your use of a domestic menu. I would find such practice unacceptable in any part of the world on a point of principle if not warned in advance of any meal consumption. Cornel, There used to be a restaurant in Dar that had the same menu with different prices. The menu given to the male had the prices they would charge. The menu given to the female had the same items with twice the prices. Needless to say, some of my dates got really impressed when taken for dinner there :-) Mervyn __ Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca
Re: [Goanet]Cheapie Brits visiting Goa along their butlers, chefs and cooks
Hi Guys, I think the topic is going a bit off-track from what was intended earlier along the thread. (Not sure what Eddie's posting meant to convey, but did I misread a touch of sarcism in the subject-line?) Firstly, given the low margins (and I'm not justifying this) in India, a lot of over-charging does take place. Not just to visitors from abroad, but even to others. I routinely get overcharged while travelling in a rickshaw in Bangalore or Mumbai. The smart ones here are (often) Western tourists who subscribe to sites like Indiamike.com and know exactly what it costs to buy a rice-plate at Sarovar in Panjim or take a backwaters ride in Collamb (Quilon). When Miguel posted the issue of a *luxury tax*, what he was referring to was simply the fact that those who go in for luxury items (whether foreigners, expats or locals) have to pay an additional tax on their items. For instance, five-starred hotels would be levying such an additional tax, but not the place where I, Cornel or Gabriel (with ABCDEFG kids, Australian-born conspicuously dressed English-accented foreign-returned Goan kids that is) could eat a Rs 20 rice-plate. The issue is not local or expat/foreigner, but simply what kind of product or service your accessing. BTW, from another point of view, given the fact that the international economy is so lop-sided against us in the Third World, it might not be unfair at all to have discriminatory pricing. It reminded me of a visit to East Berlin (from the West, as a student) in its last days sometime in 1990, when there were separate 'hard currency' shops for people with D-Marks, dollars, pounds (Euros weren't in yet). As a corollary, it meant that 'locals' were deprived from accessing the products in these shops. Dunno which is more unfair ;-) It sometimes strikes me as terribly unfair that anyone -- including a dollar earning foreigner/expat -- can visit an museum in Goa for Rs 5 and enter the Science Centre for Rs 10, while infact the expenses for maintaining these infrastructure are paid for by local citizen collectively. In the West, of course, everyone pays a standard rate for entry, which is naturally calculated on the basis of the earnings of someone staying there! Not the fact that those staying in the so-called 'developing countries' earn maybe a tenth of what their counterparts do. Tough luck mate, if you can't afford it, just don't travel ;-) I'm not complaining here... just trying to say that an argument which seems quite fair (even to Cornel) can infact be not as cut-and-dry as made out to first be. Incidentally, talking about luxuries, entertainment (including films) was long considered a luxury in India. Perhaps this tradition goes back to the 'fifties and 'sixties, when sufficient food was a luxury even for the middle-classes here. Consequently, the film-goer had to pay a huge tax on every ticket he or she bought. Which makes me wonder: at what rate is the Inox being taxed in Goa? Some journalists at the IFFI were telling a lobbyist against film 'piracy' that, in nearby Maharashtra, inspite of tax-breaks and tax-free rules for the multiplexes, they were charging visitors there as much as Rs 200 per ticket. Meaning, nearly a thousand bucks for a family of five! FN On Tue, 21 Dec 2004, cornel wrote: I was staggered and disgusted to learn that you were effectively 'done' at a Bangalore restaurant when a payment demand was made at a tourist rate following your use of a domestic menu. I would find such practice unacceptable in any part of the world on a point of principle if not warned in advance of any meal consumption. I therefore wonder if Fred Noronha/Goanet can advise us who to contact regarding a complaint, however insignificant it may seem, about such rogue/corrupt practice which leaves such a bad taste in the mouth. Cornel
Re: [Goanet]Cheapie Brits visiting Goa along their butlers, chefs and cooks
## # Goanetters-2004 meet in Goa. Dec 21, Tuesday. 12 noon to 2 pm. # # Clube Vasco, Near Municipal Garden, Panjim. Pass the word around! # ## Gabriel, I was staggered and disgusted to learn that you were effectively 'done' at a Bangalore restaurant when a payment demand was made at a tourist rate following your use of a domestic menu. I would find such practice unacceptable in any part of the world on a point of principle if not warned in advance of any meal consumption. I therefore wonder if Fred Noronha/Goanet can advise us who to contact regarding a complaint, however insignificant it may seem, about such rogue/corrupt practice which leaves such a bad taste in the mouth. Cornel
RE: [Goanet]Cheapie Brits visiting Goa along their butlers, chefs and cooks
## # Goanetters-2004 meet in Goa. Dec 21, Tuesday. 12 noon to 2 pm. # # Clube Vasco, Near Municipal Garden, Panjim. Pass the word around! # ## --- Tim de Mello [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: A two-tier system: A sure-fire way to drive all tourists away. It sure did - me. At Bangalore, went to a classy restaurant. I was given the domestic menu, found prices reasonable. Enjoyed meal. When the bill came, I was charged the tourist prices. All because my kids spoke English with an Aussie accent. Complaints to the manager proved useless. Cheers, Gabriel. Find local movie times and trailers on Yahoo! Movies. http://au.movies.yahoo.com
RE: [Goanet]Cheapie Brits visiting Goa along their butlers, chefs and cooks
## # Goanetters-2004 meet in Goa. Dec 21, Tuesday. 12 noon to 2 pm. # # Clube Vasco, Near Municipal Garden, Panjim. Pass the word around! # ## Miguel Braganza [EMAIL PROTECTED] said: It cannot gain from the 'luxury tax'...these tourists do not live or eat in luxury establishments. I do not understand this concept of a luxury tax. I do not hear of this elsewhere in the world. Is it still valid in the India of today? Can the market system itself not drive this? If Rs.2/- pao or a Rs.10 loaf of sliced bread or a Rs.20 plate of fish curry rice?? cannot benefit the sellers then is there not something wrong with the prices being charged? If you want a two tier system - one for locals and one for foreigners - then this should be applied across the board. Why selected items only? Look at the local air fares. Most Indians flying locally today can afford to pay what foreigners are being charged - probably more. So should there be a two-tier system here? The state should create facilities and infrastructutre to attract high end tourists so they do not go to buy Rs.2/- pao or a Rs.10 loaf of sliced bread or a Rs.20 plate of fish curry rice. Do not blame the tourists. A two-tier system: A sure-fire way to drive all tourists away. Tim de Mello [EMAIL PROTECTED] CANADA
Re: [Goanet]Cheapie Brits visiting Goa along their butlers, chefs and cooks
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## --- Eddie Fernandes [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: this season, unfortunately, they are spending very little in India as they are bringing along their butlers, chefs and cooks, she said. I don't know if the title butler, chef and cook relates to the husband or the wife :-)). I know I am guilty of doing similar touristic sins along with a large number of normal tourists whenever we go to the Gold Coast or other destinations within Australia, or even Europe. We prefer to stay in serviced apartments or rooms with a kitchenette (where we can cook our own food for health reasons as well as economy) rather than in 5 or 6 star hotels. OK, we do not cook every meal - but one does get a bit tired of eating out every day. Listen, the largest number of tourists are found at camping / caravan parks, and facilities at these places are pretty reasonable, some even having creches to look after the kiddies whilst the parents go and have a ball at the disco or pub. If you want the 5-star types to come in, then pleeease improve the infrastructure: better roads, hygiene, clean beaches, no mosquitoes and for goodness sake get rid of that hulk of a dead River Princess. Gabriel. Find local movie times and trailers on Yahoo! Movies. http://au.movies.yahoo.com
Re: [Goanet]Cheapie Brits visiting Goa along their butlers, chefs and cooks
## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/# # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ## [Goanet]Cheapie Brits visiting Goa along their butlers, chefs and cooks Eddie Fernandes [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I find it difficult to believe that the Union tourism minister would make such a comment about UK tourists who travel to Goa with their butlers, chefs and cooks. Surely she has been misquoted. A miniscule number may do so and rent heritage houses, paying rentals from Rs 50,000 per week (low season and excluding cost of flights). Their expenditure is more than those choosing to stay in five star establishments. Cheers Eddie Fernandes _ This is a well known fact and the fact that the Union Tourism Minister stated it might not have been in good taste to those who are unaware of the facts on the ground. Well, the Goans including Churchill Alemao, Khalap and even those from Goa's Department of Tourism has been saying this for a very long time. Check the www.rediff.com archives as well as www.goa-world.com/goa/ and www.goanews.com You will find all the statements recorded there. Churchill Alemao on Goa Tourism: We can earn a lot of foreign exchange on it, especially if we encourage upmarket tourism. What's the use of getting masons and carpenters by charter flights? AlmeidaG(ji) Goan Voices UKnow __ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - Find what you need with new enhanced search. http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250
