Goa Tourism industry has lent its full support to Sunburn musical festival stating that the event would benefit the state by inviting more tourists

 

"Hosting the festival in Goa will be beneficial for the state. The brand is catching up and this helps to bring in large number of tourists, " Tourism Director Swapnil Naik said. 

 

The Department has allied with the festival that would kick-off on December 27 at Candolim beach in North Goa.The fresh statement come a day after state Home Ministry expressed uncertainty on granting permission to festival organizers to host the three-day event. Home Minister Ravi Naik had told reporters on Tuesday that they are yet to give a go-ahead for the event. "The organizers have announced the date to host the event presuming that they will get permission. But unless the Home Department gives permission, the festival cannot happen," Naik said. 

Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) echoed the same view as the tourism director. President Gaurish Dhond said that the event will invite variety of tourists from across the globe. "Police can definitely take action if there are apprehensions that drugs are consumed at the venue," he said referring to case of Banglorian girl Meha Bahuguna who died due to suspected drug overdose at the festival venue in 2009. Festival organizers meanwhile claimed to have fitted enough security measures in and around the venue to evade any untoward incident. Shailendra Singh, Joint Managing Director of Percept Ltd said, "With several thousand people expected at Sunburn 2010, the Sunburn team in collaboration with the Goa Police is taking all the necessary steps to ensure that you have a safe and secure time at the festival and leave the state, refreshed with great memories." 

 

The event will sport 32 CCTV cameras, two level manned securities, sniffer dogs, narcotics patrol officers, an emergency medical team equipped with a mini clinic, an onsite medical team, several medical consultants, 6 emergency exits and 4 watch towers. The event will also have on call a first of its kind Disaster Management Team in case or an emergency, he said.