Panaji: Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has begun conceiving a master plan for the entertainment and animation village at Mandrem that was proposed a few months ago. A feasibility study of the entire area is also under way.
As the project is still in the preliminary stage, other aspects required to determine the exact land requirement will be decided later, an official said. “The project is likely to be developed on a public-private partnership model, which has been followed for a few other projects requiring substantial investment,” the official said.
Besides boosting the profile of the coastal village of Mandrem, the tourism ministry feels the project will attract foreign and high-end tourists.
“It will be a source of employment and Goa’s talent will also get an opportunity work within the state itself. The main purpose of the project, however, is to attract tourism,” the official said.
While Pernem has been witnessing some semblance of development over the past two decades, Mandrem is yet to get its due.
“People of Mandrem have to look outside for job opportunities although some youth have been into tourism. We are yet to see real development. Work on the Tuem electronic city project, which was initiated five years ago, is progressing, but at a slow pace,” a local said.
The only development Mandrem has seen over the past few years, he said, was a jump in land prices, prompting locals to either sell their ancestral lands or build guesthouses and small hotels to cater to tourists.
After the greenfield international airport at Mopa is operational, development in the Pernem taluka will take on a scorching pace, the local said.
“Mandrem has so many temples, the entire village is lush and green and ideal for a quiet getaway, provided that a few facilities are developed for tourists. We hope the entertainment village project brings the desired development,” he said.