PANJIM: Reacting strongly at the remarks by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant that “outside forces are working to shut down tourism in Goa”, the tourism stakeholders and political activists on Saturday said that more than outside factors,it is the “inside factors” that are causing aberrations in the tourism business of Goa.
Political activist Trajano D’Mello demanded that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant should resign immediately for his statement that tourism is being disturbed by outside forces, as it is an admission that his government has lost control of the administration.
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Lambasting Sawant over his recent statement, D’Mello said, “The Chief Minister’s recent statement exposes that his government, his intelligence services and his home ministry have collapsed. He should immediately tender his resignation and accept that he has failed to apprehend the culprits behind such grave economic crime.”
The tourism stakeholders too disagreed with CM’s statement. Lyndon Alves, a tourism expert, said, “Goa is booming and lot of tourists are coming to the State. I don’t think it is outside forces that are destroying the tourism in Goa, it is the lack of quality that we have lost.”
“Lack of administration, lack of good roads, facilities, pollution in the state are the factor that are responsible. Outsiders are not destroying tourism in Goa,” he said.
“We need to clean up our home first. Look at the delay in opening the Zuari bridge. We need to find solutions to clean up our homes,” he added.
Nilesh Shah from the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa said, “I hope better sense prevails among our taxi brothers and government needs to act if there is a need for improvement of tourism.”
“The issue is with entire transportation system of Goa,” he added. He also said that Goa needs to resolve the issues soon if tourism has to flourish.
Ernest Dias, Operating Officer of TCI and SITA, said, “More than outside, it is the inside forces that are affecting the tourism. Drugs, law and order issues and the issues surrounding the taxi operations need to be resolved.”
Dias said that we should stop discussing the negative issues surrounding Goa and put efforts in resolution.
