Goa Tourism Introduced Cashless Transactions Several Months Ago

Cashless Transactions

• GTDC is Goa's first Government organization to adopt 100% cashless transactions
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• Initiatives taken more than a year ago by GTDC to go cashless
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• Introduction of e-commerce portal and mobile app gives boost to cashless transactions

GTDC sees encouraging response from tourists using online and off-line systems for cashless payments like POS machines, wire transfers etc

Panjim, Nov 30: Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), a premiere tourism board in India which has been the forerunner for many new tourism initiatives, products and services, is today at the forefront of Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi’s ‘cashless India’ mission.

Following 31, 2016, Goa Tourism Development Corporation has already taken the lead bringing all tourism business’ under the ambit of cashless transactions.

Whether hotel reservations, package tours, cruise rides or any other tourism service, GTDC has introduced systems that have facilitated cashless transactions, both on-line and off-line.

Cashless facility is made possible by GTDC through online web portal, booking of services and products through mobile app available on iOS and android platform at GTDC residencies and restaurants through point-of-sale (POS) machines thus enabling a 360 degree approach to the new cashless system.

The GTDC is also working to introduce pay wallets and talks are underway with leading pay wallet providers so that pay wallets can be accepted as another mode of cashless payments.

The Santa Monica Jetty also offers payments through credit cards and debit cards.

To further this process, the launch of the new e-commerce portal and mobile app in February this year has provided a full proof platform for e-business and cashless transactions also bringing other tourism stakeholders into the cashless circuit.

Official records from the GTDC reveal that cashless transactions to the tune of Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh are executed daily for various services provided by the GTDC which is in addition to cashless transactions recorded on GTDC’s e-commerce portal and mobile app.

Mr. Gavin Dias, General Manager (Hotels)- GTDC said, “All GTDC residencies are provided with point-of-sale (POS) machines to facilitate cashless payments and most tourists prefer to use this facility. It is encouraging to see tourists opting for cashless transactions.” Mr. Dias added that in the months to come GTDC’s cashless systems will be an exemplary one for other departments to emulate.

Mr. Dias pointed out that in addition to cashless business for GTDC’s hotel accommodation, GTDC through the e-commerce portal has direct tie ups with more than 160 hotels and also has tie ups with channel managers like Staah and Maximojo for tourists to book accommodation using cashless modes of transactions.

He further added that cashless transactions has already become very popular and an easy way out for both tourists and tourism stakeholders.

Goa attracts more than 5 million tourists annually and Goa Tourism and GTDC is eventually looking at bringing in every tourism stakeholder whether tourist taxis, souvenir shops, guest houses, restaurants etc under cashless business.

Mr. Nilesh Cabral, Chairman of Goa Tourism Development Corporation said, “Goa Tourism Development Corporation moves ahead of time and we have one more feather to our cap. I am extremely pleased that GTDC introduced cashless transactions several months ago. Today the world has already logged in to cashless processes and India would have eventually introduced the same. GTDC has succeeded in professionalizing the services through cashless systems and we are fully geared to deal with it post 31st December 2016.”

Experience The Cool Climate At Mandovi River In Cruise

CRUISE 

AT

MANDOVI RIVER

The Santa Monica takes you on a leisurely cruise along the Mandovi River. While the boat sails down the river, local boys and girls perform folk dances and sing mandos. Their performance is followed up a live band. The Santa Monica then takes you past the Panjim riverfront to Miramar to witness a spectacular sunset.

This cruise is generally included in the North Goa Tours arranged by the GTDC. This is an hour long cruise on the Santa Monica which takes guests out on a leisurely sail down the River Mandovi from the Santa Monica jetty in Panaji. While the vessel sails serenly down the river past the beautiful Adil Shah Palace that was once the first building in Panjim City.

This was the summer palace of the Sultan which was then used by the Viceroy of Portugal and finally by the government of Goa as its Secretariat. Now that a new Secretariat is in use on Porvorim Hill across the river Mandovi, the Adil Shah Palace wil be turned into a cultural centre with art galleries and concert halls, etc.

While you sail down the river local boys and girls treat you to some Goa's best known folk dances, the dekhni and the fugdi. They sing mandos and finally give over centrestage to live musicians or a DJ and the guest can then sing and dance and generally make merry. This cruise is a huge success with people of all ages, men, women and children.

The Santa Monica then takes you past the Panjim riverfront past the jetty and old colonial buildings on past the Promenade with its lovely tree lined avenues past Miramar where you sit and watch one of Goa's spectacular sunsets.

You can see the spread of the Mormugao Port and the mass of the Aguada Fort and as the shadows lengthen you find yourself transported back in history to the time when all visitors who landed on these shores loved Goa so much they wanted to possess her.

The Santa Monica then turns around and sails back to her jetty along the silent Mandovi, past the pretty cottages of Betim.

TARIFF

Dep: 6.00 pm onwards( 1 hr duration) upto 7.30 p.m. (Queue system)
Rs 300/- per head

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