HOTEL CHAINS MAKING A BEELINE FOR GOA

The credit squeeze and worldwide economic slowdown appear to have not affected Goa's hotel industry. The hospitality sector, in fact, is going through a sort of boom with project proposals for at least eight five-star hotels and resorts under various stages of completion. Seven of these have been registered with the department of tourism over the last few months. Sources say that strengthening of Goa as a major tourist destination has induced global hospitality majors like Grand Hyatt, Hilton and Shangri La to acquire properties in Goa. Also Attila Hotels and Oberoi Hotels and Resorts coastline. Thirty-six new hotel and guesthouse projects have been registered with the tourism department over the last six months. "More than 30 new hotel and guesthouse projects have come up in Goa. They are registered with the tourism department. Another eight five and five-star deluxe hotels are in the pipeline. "This shows that tourism in Goa is on an upward trend and the economic slowdown that is happening at present is a temporary phenomenon," Lyndon Monteiro, vice-chairman, Goa Tourism development corporation (GTDC) said.