Team Herald
PANJIM: The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) has backed the app-based taxi service GoaMiles amidst huge opposition from the tourist taxi operators, who have threatened to go on strike if the government fails to roll back the app-service.
“The taxi unions are threatening the very right to do our tourism business by demanding scrapping of GoaMiles which is working towards improving Goa’s image that was dented by the taxi operators over the years. We urge the government to save GoaMiles and see that no curbs are put on their operations so that Goans and Goa Tourism are saved,” TTAG President Savio Messias told Herald after leading a delegation of stakeholders to meet Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho at the Secretariat on Tuesday.
The meeting was essentially to express their gratitude to him, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar and Power Minister Nilesh Cabral for the strong stand taken in the taxi matter. They also reminded the minister that social media and the entire local population is supporting GoaMiles.
The TTAG discussed the implementation of the meters and timelines required by the government as the matter comes up for hearing in the High Court on July 5. Messias said the implementation is a facility meant for the citizens and not only tourists and their demands are within the law which is fully supported by GCCI, CII, GSIA, industrial houses and the people of Goa.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, who has been seeking an amicable solution to crisis between tourist taxis and GoaMiles, has already said if taxi operators are adamant to not join the app service, they will have to install the meters as per High Court directions.
Meanwhile, the TTAG thanked the minister for taking up the hotel industry grievances at the GST council.
