Kamat group lines up hotels in Konkan

The Kamat group of hotels has decided to set up a chain of bed and breakfast hotel facilities, a five star 'Orchid' ecotel, four star and three star hotel facilities as well as a hotel management and research centre in the Konkan region.

Vithal Venkatesh Kamat said: "We have identified seven locations on the Mumbai-Sawantwadi roadway where simple overnight accommodation with a clean toilet and vegetarian food will be available. These facilities will be strategically located at 90-minute-drive intervals along the entire Konkan stretch."

While this is aimed at middleclass Indian tourists visiting the Konkan region, the Kamat group of hotels also intends to set up four-star facility hotels in the region, including the second five star project in the region that is close to the construction phase.

"The Kamat group also intends to set up the Kamat Hotels Institute of Hotel Management and Research Centre (KHIHMRC) in Sawantwadi to cater to the needs of a mushrooming hotel industry that is coming up in the Konkan region," Kamat said.

The Kamat group's plan has left Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) officials pleased. "The Kamat group's plan to set up facilities in the region goes to endorse our (MTDC's) confidence in the tourism potential of the Konkan region," MTDC managing director Bhushan Gagrani said.

Meanwhile, Cidade-da-Goa has got its proposal for setting up a 'boutique' five star hotel just off the Arvali beach front cleared by the Coastal Regulation Management Authority (CRMA).

The 'boutique' hotel will offer a 'swimming pool with every room' facility. The project will be 100 acres of Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) land given to Fomento Resorts Pvt Ltd (owners of Cidade-da-Goa) on a 90-year lease.

MTDC managing director Bhushan Gagrani said: "The CRMA clearance has been issued to the hotel project. The proposal is currently being processed by the Union Environment ministry."

MTDC is currently developing the Konkan region as a tourist attraction with a houseboat facility to be launched on the Kudal-Tarkarli creek post Diwali.

Mayor of Sawantwadi Deepak Kesarkar says: "Sawantwadi (in Konkan) is barely a couple of hours drive from Goa. We are keen to promote the 10 to 15 beaches in the Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri talukas of the Konkan region as they are pristine, clean and comprise high quality white sand. Beaches like Shirod, Aravli, Vengrula, Khavme, Bhogne, Nenti, Mid-bhau and Kunkeshwar offer tourists a less populated holiday option than Goa."