Britain Unveils new visa plans from August 9 2011

Britain has announced a new visa category to facilitate the immigration for exceptionally talented people from India and other non-EU countries in the fields of science, humanities, engineering and the arts.

The new Tier 1 (exceptional talent) category will open on 9 August 2011, and will have 1,000 places in the first year of operation, official sources here said. The new category will facilitate not only those who have already been recognised but also those with the potential to be recognised as leaders in their respective fields, the sources added.

There will be 500 places available between the August 9 and November 30 and a further 500 places available from the December 1 to March 31, 2012. The number of places will be reviewed at the end of March 2012. The immigration category will be overseen by four ‘competent bodies’, which will advise the UK border agency on these ‘exceptionally talented’ migrants to ensure that they are the brightest and best in their field.

The bodies are: the Royal Society, a fellowship of the world’s most eminent scientists, will be able to nominate up to 300 places; the Arts Council England, the national development agency for the arts, will also be able to nominate up to 300 places; the Royal Academy of Engineering, Britain’s national academy for engineering, will have up to 200 places to nominate; and the British Academy, the national academy for the humanities and social sciences will be able to nominate up to 200 places.

The Immigration minister, Mr Damian Green said: “The UK is a global leader in science, humanities and engineering and we are a cultural centre for the arts: we will continue to welcome those who have the most to offer and contribute to our society and economy”.

Migrants seeking entry to the UK under this category will not need to be sponsored by an employer, but will need to be recommended by one of the competent bodies. While the government has allotted a number of places to each body, it will be open to the bodies to transfer additional places to those with more demand if this becomes necessary, the sources added.

Those admitted under the category will initially be granted permission to stay for 3 years and 4 months. They will then be able to extend their stay for a further 2 years, and settlement may be available after 5 years’ residence in the UK.

Mr Alan Davey, the chief executive of arts council England, said: “We welcome the launch of this special visa scheme, which will enable the very best artists of international standing to live and work in the UK”. It will be for each competent body to select those who will qualify for recommendation, and we have also published the criteria for their endorsement.

The president of the British Academy, Sir Adam Roberts, said: “The Humanities and Social Sciences are flourishing in the UK and attract many excellent scholars from overseas. The British Academy is ready to play its part in identifying those outstanding scholars for whom Tier 1 is the appropriate visa category.”

Goa holidays - a ready reckoner

Goa has long been known as a paradise for vacationers who have traditionally preferred Goa in comparison to other holiday destinations in India owing to Goa's charming beauty and westernized culture.Couple this with the three "S"s which Goa is famous for- Sun, sea and Sand, and you have a cocktail for a holiday destination that you should not miss. Goa's never ending strip of sun kissed beaches , magnificent churches, beautiful ancient temples, liberal lifestyle and a great legacy of the erstwhile Portuguese rule makes Goa a natural hotspot for tourists with a leisure holiday on mind.

Although Goa is a destination for tourists from all over the world it is not an expensive destination to say the least and you can afford a holiday in Goa at a cheap cost. Something that the backpackers discovered long ago and continue to do so by traveling to Goa regularly.Goa holidays have been the favourite of people on low budgets as well as the high net worth travelers simply because it has the will to accommodate a wide category of tourists.

Goa's natural beauty to a large extent is the result of the Portuguese rule in Goa which extended to this place from the year 1510 to 1961 encompassing over 450 years of colonial rule which transformed Goa into a place blending the west with the east and its cuisine, local habits and dress codes are ample testimony to this fact. Goa's architecture of major houses and antique mansions is a glaring evidence of the impact which Portugal had over tiny Goa. The Portuguese culture has left an indelible mark on Goa's lifestyle which has endeared tourists to this place which is an ideal holiday destination with affable and friendly people to supplement a well-deserved holiday.

Goa is among the younger states of India and is very small in size compared to majority of the other Indian states and covers an area of only 3,702 km . In fact it is a linear stretch of coastal paradise known as the Konkan belt facing the Arabian Sea. Goa's coastline has a length of around 100 kilometres and the Goan mainland comprises of many rivulets, the major ones being the famous Mandovi in Panjim, the river Zuari in Cortalim, the Chapora river in Chapora, the terekhol river, the sal river in Salcete and the Betul river in the south. The Mormugao harbour is the natural harbour on the mouth of the Zuari river and is a busy port serving the needs of Goa's logistic operations.

Historically it is known that the Mandovi and the Zuari rivers are the lifelines of Goa with their tributaries claiming over 70 percent of Goa's area. Goa is blessed with more than eight marine and about ninety riverine islands and forty estuaries. The entire navigable length of Goa's rivers is around 157 miles.

Goa has plenty of beach area and several beaches are made famous over the ages. Each beach in Goa has an identity of its own and a following which goes beyond the seas. The most famous beaches of Goa are the Calangute beach, Anjuna Beach, Vagator beach, Dona Paula beach and Miramar beach in the north and Colva Beach, Benaulim Beach, Majorda Beach and Arossim beach in the south. The beaches have popularized Goa as the beach capital of India and it is rightly so. Over a million visitors visit Goa every year and holidaymakers to Goa are often known to find quick relaxation in Goa owing to Goa's laid back natural feeling which is summed up by the word "succegado", nostalgic to Goa and which means "laid back".

Goa's lush green surroundings give you a feel of openness and one can indulge in free spirited movement in Goa while following action after action and pursuing endless opportunities to roam around and enjoying all-night partying at certain locations. Goa's fun is not limited to the rich pockets and people of every budget can enjoy the spirit of fun and abandonment.

The Culture of Goa showcases a distinctly different cultural outlook compared to the rest of India. Its population has a wonderful mix of both Hindu and Christian people who live in perfect harmony in this most peaceful state of India. The traditional customs of the Hindus still remain intact in Goa and the traditional shigmo is one such festival which makes good entertainment besides many other such festivals of the Hindus. The Catholics in Goa celebrate feasts at various occasions including the feasts of every church in Goa. Goa has hundreds of Churches one in every village and city and as such festivities in Goa abound throughout the year .The traditional Carnival is observed in Goa with great fervour and marks Goa's distinguished western flavor in Eastern India.The people of Goa therefore observe the festivals of Christmas, Easter, Ganesh Chaturthi and Shigmo with equal zest.

Goa's staple food is fish curry rice and fish in itself is a desirable delicacy for almost every Goan and many lip-smacking fish preparations continue to decorate the Goan menu for ages. The Goan cashew feni is a natural brew extracted from the juice of the cashew fruit in Goa and has made Goa famous by its nostalgic delight all over the world. The Cashew feni is also known to have great medicinal value and is often used in Goa with other natural additives as a cure for many ailments. Goa is also known to extract maximum produce from its natural resource of palm trees which provide Goans with a great income and often runs households entirely on the coconut trade. Coconut vinegar is also very popular among Goans and unlike other places in India which use citric acid as vinegar, Goans continue to use natural palm toddy to produce vinegar which is used for various Goan preparations including the tasty delicacy called "Goan sannas". Palm trees also yield a brew known as "Maddancho Feni "which is prepared from palm toddy.

You can reach Goa by air, road and rail. Daily flights are connected to the major cities in India including Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai etc. Goa is hardly at a distance of 600 kms from Mumbai and buses are plying to Mumbai, Bangalore and Pune daily .Train services to Goa rae mainly along the Konkan railway route and several trains run through Goa which include the Konkan kanya, Matsyagandha express, Mandavi express, Netravati, Hapa express etc. The major stations in Goa include Margao, Vasco, Tivim, and Karmali. Although Goa has a large coastline, travel by sea has still not caught fancy and has been interrupted several times after being launched.

To book your hotel in Goa at bargain prices, click here!

Goa tourism info now on cellphone

Goa tourism department has now set into motion a tech-savvy initiative which makes it possible for tourists to receive information about popular tourist spots in Goa directly on their mobile phones. When this happens, information on Goa’s tourist locales such as the majestic forts, Goan beaches, Goa’s heritage spots, Goan temples and Churches, waterfalls and rivers will be available at the press of a button on your mobile phone.

Undertaken in association with the Infotech Corporation of Goa Ltd (ITGL) the mobile governance( m-governance) programme in the state has been launched as a part of the government-to-citizen initiative. Goa tourism is therefore closely working with ITGL on this project.All places of tourist importance are expected to be included in the project.

To get the required information all that the tourist has to do is send the code of the site to the designated number and he or she will receive the required information. The various locations and spots in Goa which are of prominent nature will be allotted a specific code number in a fixed format. therefore texting the code number in the format: MGoa_(place code) to 56070 will give tourists the information to that particular place. messages can also be given in the audio format.

To create the required awareness about the facility, various signboards , listing the code for each place will be placed a t vantage spots all across the state of Goa. The Goa tourism department is also expected to create more awareness on the project through the departments website and through publicity material including brochures and other travel literature on Goa.

It is believed that in tune with the times, this tech savvy project will be of great help to the millions of travelers who visit Goa every year and lot of efforts are on to ensure that this mobile application is truly successful in aiding tourists to Goa to get the information on attractions of Goa on an instant basis.

Majorda Beach resort Goa

The Majorda beach resort is one of the famous hotel names in south Goa which has carved a niche for itself in the hospitality sector.The Majorda beach resort is located on the Majorda Beach front and is one of the foremost hotels to decorate the Goan coastline and therefore holds a nostalgic place in the hearts and minds of both Goans and visitors visiting the hotel from all over the world.

One of the most beautiful beaches of Goa, the Majorda beach is on the southern coastline of Goa and hosts this beautiful resort.The resort has a typical Portuguese flavour to its outlook as its ceilings are high and it has large chandeliers immersing its beautiful grandeur to onlookers. The reception area of the hotel leads to an indoor pool with great views of the green lawns which lead you to the outdoor swimming pool nestled among coconut trees with the restaurant and sun beds on the sidelines.

A five star deluxe hotel, Majorda Beach resort was set up to cater to the tourist inflow in Goa in the early eighties and therefore holds a place in the hearts and minds of Goans as one which opened vistas of tourism in Goa.

The Majorda Beach resort is located at a mere 15 minute drive from Goa’s Dabolim airport and a 10 Minute travel from the Margao railway station. It is around 30 kms away from the capital city of Panjim and about 6 kms from the commercial city of Margao.

Hospitality of the Majorda Beach resort has the traditional experienced outlook and it hosts 120 spacious & well maintained rooms including 10 cottages & suites. Majorda beach resort is spread over a lush area of over 22 acres which includes beautiful landscapes bordering the sands of the sea. Every room has the luxury of a private balcony which provides some stunning views of the sea and the gardens. The rooms at the Majorda beach resort have air conditioning which can be individually controlled, luxurious bathrooms, satellite television, movies beamed in-house, telephone with international dialling facilities, mini bar, tea and coffee maker, a hair dryer, safety locker, Internet wi-fi connectivity etc.

For the fun and the food, head to the “sea Shells” where you can enjoy Majorda's seasonal 'Grill' on the beach where you shall be served fresh sea food, tantalizing specialties and tangy steaks. In the company of lush greenery, at the outdoor pool, the warmth of the Garden Cafe serves Buffet Breakfasts and Moonlit Dinners .There is also the coffee shop in Cafe Del Mar to brew it up.

Among the various facilities available at the Majorda Beach resort are health and fitness centers separately for ladies and Gents. A Squash court, Tennis courts, Billiards facilities, massage therapy, Board games ,chess, beach volley ball, water sports facilities, therapeutic massage centers in ayurvedic pastes and natural oils etc.

To make your holiday special at the Majorda Beach resort Click here for some bargain offers

North Goa Hotels

The beach scape in North Goa is dotted with majestic lighting overlooking the expanse of the beach emanating form various hotels which play host to tourists from the world who come to Goa to indulge in the fun and frolic that the Goan holiday consistently offers. North Goa hotels are by far among the best hotels in India and are spread widely across the coastline.

Prominent among the hotels in north Goa are The Taj group of hotels which has over five properties in north Goa alone. These include The Taj Fort Aguada Beach resort , Taj holiday village Goa resort at Sinquerim, the Taj Aguada hermitage, the Taj Vivanta and the Ginger Panjim. Apart from these you have the Goa Marriot resort at at Panjim and The Cidade de Goa at Dona Paula which make up for the top class s star hotels in north Goa.

To book your hotel in North Goa at bargain prices click here

For the rest of the hotels in north Goa there is a wide choice to choose from among the following Anjuna beach resort at Anjuna, The Abalone resort at Arpora, Alor Grand Holiday resort at Candolim, Avantika resort at Calangute, Beira Mar resort at Calangute, Cavala Rsort at Baga, Colonia Santa Maria at baga, Dona Alcina resort at Candolim, Goan heritage hotel at Calangute, Highland beach resort at Calangute, Kamat holiday homes Calangute, LA calypso Paradiso Getaway resort, Marinha Dourada at Arpora, Neelams the Grand at Calangute, Nizmar resort Calangute. Ondas do Mar Calangute, Osborne Holiday resort Calangute, Resort Aldeia De Goa Arpora, Santiago resort Calangute, Victor Exotica Beach resort Candolim, and the Whispering Palms Candolim.

Hotel Booking In Goa

Planning for a holiday to Goa? What about hotel booking? There are plenty of such questions that are bound to throw up once you make that decision to have your most desired trip to Goa.

Some of them are, “What kind of hotel to book in Goa?” Where do you stay in Goa. North Goa or South Goa? What kind of hotel do you prefer? Would you like a five star resort in Goa or are you comfortable with a 3 star hotel in Goa? Is it for a business trip to Goa or for a pleasure holiday to Goa ? How long is your holiday to Goa? How are you travelling to Goa? Is it by economy flights to Goa or is it by the premium class of travel?

Or would you like to enjoy the terrain and travel to Goa by train? Or how about a bus journey to Goa? Have you got any idea about how you are going to spend your holiday in Goa? Do you have Goa tours on mind? Or is a boat trip to a Goan island exciting you? How about kayaking in Goan waters? Or better deep scuba diving? You interested in indulging in Water sports in Goa? Snorkeling? How about a trip to some traditional Goan places? A spice farm visit? Would a visit to see ancient Goa excite you?

Have you seen the Goan architecture? Or the bright colours on Goan houses which show off the Portuguese flavour? Would you like to have a good look at some hundred odd churches of Goa which have some finest architecture and some great history? How about the countryside of Goa and tis beautiful temples and gurgling rivers? Aren’t your tastebuds bound to sweat with the sound of some great Goan cuisine? How about digging your teeth softly into the traditional Goan sannas? or helping yourself to some delectable Goan bebinca?

There is indeed more to Goa than what you thought of and if you would like to enjoy Goa to the fullest it is needed that you plan your holiday well. There are plenty of choices available on the internet to plan your holiday. However we offer a bargain choice of hotels to make your trip to Goa, worth the while.

Discount Accommodation in Goa

Discount accommodation in Goa is often pursued while planning a holiday to the state. Discount accommodation helps for two reasons. One is you can extend your holiday by saving costs on accommodation and secondly you can spend on other frills of the holiday such as Goa tours thereby making the most of your holiday to Goa and therefore adding value to your holiday.

Goa, a former Portuguese colony is invaded by millions of tourists each year due to its fame as the beach capital of India and its pristine beaches continue to be a big draw. The paradise Goa still commands a Portuguese influence and the architecture and traditions prevalent in Goa are a testimony to this.The houses of Goa are beautiful in their outlook and have a palatial disposition

Hotels abound in tourist Goa and there is a place for everyone. So you can choose from the tents, ethnic huts, beach cottages, one room tenements, serviced apartments. un-starred hotels, s 3 starred accommodation, 4 star hotels, 5 star luxury and even 7 star comforts

It is therefore important to know where your budget fits in, and therefore frequent travellers to Goa plan their holiday by sifting through various Goa packages, Goa tours, Goa vacation packages etc. A good place to book your Goa holiday at discount prices would be the “Goa lifestyles” people who specialize in providing good accommodation at affordable prices.

Discount accommodation to Goa is not a difficult proposition if one makes a good plan and decides what the preferences are and what one desires out of their holiday to Goa. Goa shall continue to attract tourists form all over the world due to its unmatched legacy of being the westernized state with a great culture.

To get your discount accommodation in Goa click here