PANJIM, AUG 11
Goa Registration of Tourist Trade Act is set to get more teeth with amendment in the Act wherein director of tourism will be vested with powers as also activities such as water sports and adventure tourism will be brought under the ambit of law — making water sports a cognisaable offence under Cr Pc.
Secretary Tourism Dr M Modassir while speaking at a press conference on Wednesday here while unveiling of multi-dimensional campaign to boost tourism, said operators of water sports will be now held accountable for any accidents with any negligence on their will be treated as cognizable offence.
With growth in tourism, there has been corresponding increase in water sports activities but negligence by operators have left a big question mark on the safety of users (tourists).
There have been couple of accidents in the past involving tourists with water operators not employing adequate safety mechanism and instruments.
Guidelines were framed for water sports activity however they could not be implemented in the absence of powers in the Act, pointed out Swapnil Naik, Director of Tourism.
The proposed amendment will enlarge the scope of the Act. “Not just water sports activity but all kinds of tourism related activities which were not covered under the Act earlier will be brought under its range now,” said Naik. Added provisions in the Act will enable the director of tourism to initiate against offenders under the Act.
TOURISTS SECURITY: The tourism department will soon have its own force to provide protection to tourists.
Tourist security force comprising of retired army men will be formed and to begin with security men will be posted at all popular beaches.
The tourism department has contacted Rajya Sainik Board for recruitment of ex-servicemen and has listed sixty-six security personnel for the job, he said.
