Goa eyeing UAE, Iran tourists

Encouraged by the increasing number of tourists to Goa from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Iran, the tourism department has decided to participate in the Arabian Travel Mart to tap potential tourists to the state.
In the 2011-12 tourism season (October to March), the Dabolim airport received 13 charter flights from Iran, bringing in 1,700 tourists, while 1,000 tourists arrived from the UAE.
"We may participate in the Arabian Travel Mart in Dubai this year. We did not participate during the last two years. This year, there are many direct scheduled flights arriving in Goa from Dubai and that is why we want to tap the market," tourism director Swapnil Naik told STOI. Goa can attract tourists from the UAE and Iran, which has shown good potential now, he added.
Air India, Air Arabia and Qatar Airways have scheduled direct flights to Goa from UAE, Naik said.
The tourism department will also participate in major international tourist marts to attract tourists from various countries for the next tourism season. "We will participate in World Travel Mart-London, International Travel Bazaar in Berlin and FITUR in Spain," he added, while stating that the team will also go to travel marts in Poland, Hungary and Austria to attract charter flights from these countries.
This year, so far, Goa received 25 charter flights from Poland, which brought 2,700 tourists. As per the provisional figures, 2,185 tourists have arrived from Austria in 2011.
In all, Goa received 910 charters from various countries, bringing in 1.75 lakh tourists.

Goa CM mulls Wi-Fi in all schools, grouping of govt-run ones

Wi-Fi in all schools, bringing all government schools together and giving them quality facilities and, most importantly, taking all stakeholders into confidence are some of the initiatives that chief minister Manohar Parrikar has in mind while implementing the Right to Education (RTE) Act in Goa. Briefing the media after the cabinet meeting on Friday, Parrikar admitted to one serious hitch in implementing the RTE. He said that several educationists have conveyed to him that due to the provision in the RTE that no student should be detained till Class VIII, there are several cases where students are giving blank answer papers to teachers during exams. The chief minister said that just because "you cannot detain a student in one class does not mean you cannot have exams". Stating that students are not attending classes because of the provision, Parrikar said the provision "does not give license not to study". He said there are misinterpretations about the RTE and that though there are solutions, he is not only taking stakeholders like teachers and parents into confidence, but he is also "checking the solutions legally". Parrikar, who is also the education minister, said that "there are no restrictions on the state government not to come out with something more than the RTE without loading the students (in implementing the RTE). Parrikar's idea is to make schools so attractive that children actually cry to go to school and not to stay at home. One idea is to install wi-fi in all schools. Another idea is get all government schools together. If there are two-three schools nearby, these can be brought together, better facilities and more teachers can be provided, he said. Parrikar however stressed that these are only ideas and not decisions. He said he has asked all stakeholders to "churn" their minds for new ideas, meet people to take their suggestions and meet him in 15 days. "Once we decide, the decisions will be put on the public platform for comments. And when the final decisions are made, it is my job to implement these with quality," Parrikar said. TNN

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Bollywood Stars Samir Soni and Neelam Kothari to crown the Twelfth May Queen in Qatar

Seen in the picture: Samir Soni and Neelam Kothari

Bollywood Stars Samir Soni and Neelam Kothari to crown the Twelfth May Queen in Qatar

Samir Soni and Neelam Kothari will be especially flying in to Qatar to crown the 12^th May Queen. The twelfth Annual May Queen Ball will be organised by Goan Welfare Association (GWA), on 03^rd May 2012 from 8.30 pm onwards at the Ramada Plaza Doha Hotel.

Samir Soni is an Indian film and television actor and a former model. Soni was born to a Punjabi Hindu family in London, United Kingdom. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles in Economics. Prior to his Bollywood career, Samir was an investment banker with one of the bulge bracket firms on Wall Street in New York, before coming back to India to start modeling. He has attended acting courses in New York and Los Angeles. In 2003, Samir shot to fame by appearing in the film Baghban opposite legendary artists Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini. As of 2011, Samir is portraying the lead role of a lawyer Kunal Chopra in Balaji Telefilms' TV serial Parichay that airs onColors TV.

Neelam Kothari, after her early childhood in Hong Kong moved with her family to Bangkok. Neelam was holidaying in Mumbai when she was approached by director Ramesh Behl. She decided to give acting a shot and performed in the film Jawaani in 1984 alongside Karan Shah. She soldiered on ahead and became famous in 1986 for her role in the film Ilzaam opposite another debutante Govinda. She went on to make a regular pair with Govinda in movies such as Love 86, Khudgarz, Hatya, Taaqatwar and Do Qaidi. She also starred in the 1987 Hit film, Aag Hi Aag opposite Dharmendra and Chunkey Pandey and directed by Shibu Mitra. Then she starred in many other movies in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Her roles, including the one in Ek Ladka Ek Ladki opposite Salman Khan, met with mixed success. She was also noticed for her appearance in the 1998 film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, where she played herself as a VJ. In 1999, she appeared in the multi-starrer family film Hum Saath-Saath Hain: We Stand United.

Goa's ex-chief minister and a member of Indian National Congress working committee (permanent invitee), Luizinho Faleiro has consented to be the Chief Guest.

The highlight of the event is crowing of 12^th May Queen by bollywood stars Samir Soni and Neelam Kothari with fabulous prizes, said Simon D'Silva, president of Goan Welfare Association. Live band "FOREFRONT" will be flown in from Goa to render the exhilarating performances. DJ Glorio will keep the young and old folks tuned on the floor and Goa's top legend of hosts and Doha's favourite Updesh Swar will compere the event. The judging panel will be headed by the former MISS. SINGAPORE.

Participants to the contest should contact the organizers. Tickets are priced at Qrs. 150/- single and Qrs. 100/- per child. After 30 April, tickets will be priced at Qrs. 500/- subject to availability. Available at Kebab King, Ariport Road (Tel: 44433118 / 9). In order to avoid disappointment, please book your tickets now. Last year more than hundred guests were turned down at the last moment due to the non availability of the entry tickets, said D'Silva. More details can be had by phoning on 55550491, 66828980, 55529397, 55218480 & 55605755.