PANJIM: The downhill tourism sector in Goa could face another blow as beach shacks are likely to stay away from facilitating tourists for the next at least 45 days. This year, the reason for delay in setting up the temporary structures is non committal of Goa government to waive off or reduce licence and excise fees.
It is reliably learnt that no shack operator has applied for renewal of licence with the Tourism Department, as they wait for government’s decision on their pending demand. The cash-crunched shack operators have been seeking relaxation from the government to start business this season.
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“We had requested the government to reduce licence and excise fees as last year, we paid entire fee amount but the season had to be abruptly stopped due to COVID-19. Therefore, we decided to approach the government to grant us some relief for the current season,” a shack operator said.
As per the beach shack policy for three years from 2019-22, 260 shacks in North Goa and 96 shacks in the South district are allowed operations during this period with renewals every year.
President of Traditional Shack Owners Association Manuel Cardozo maintained that shacks might be delayed for about one month to one-and-half month. “Several permissions will be sought after licence renewals. As such, there would be delay in setting up shacks,” he said.
President of Shack Owners Welfare Society Cruz Cardozo informed that government is likely to take a decision on their demands next week.
With thin chances of good number of international visitors, the shack operators are heavily relying on the movement of domestic travellers.
The State is also facing huge competition from the neighbouring Sindhudurg district that is likely to start beach shack culture from this year. The Maharashtra’s Tourism Department, in a bid to revive the tourism industry has taken five major policy decisions, one of which includes setting up shacks across eight beaches on the Konkan coast.
