01 Dec 2020  |   04:58am IST

They should have framed the tourism policy. They are now slamming the ‘cut and paste” policy

The Centre for responsible tourism, a body of the Church has slammed the tourism policy presented by KPMG. This begs the question as to how it ought to be done in the future and who should be involved in the process. IN a sense it has articulated the unease among captains of Industry and tourism as t why a consultant framed the policy by not “consulting” groups without who a policy just cannot be framed

Ajit John

The Tourism industry is a big entity in Goa. It dominates the landscape. Anything that happens in that industry invites comment. Watched with much interest in the country, the Goan tourism has been in the news recently with the Centre for Responsible tourism slamming the new tourism policy. It slammed the government for its complete disconnect and ignorance about the status of the industry.

Fr. Freddy Braganca, Executive Director of the Centre for Responsible Tourism said the press statement given was very clear about the absence of thought given to the problems faced by the stakeholders and local communities involved in related activities. He said it was galling the policy presented did not have the basic data on the industry. The fact the there was no realistic data on the number of tourists, both foreign and domestic which was confirmed when the number of foreign tourists evacuated by the state government in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic far exceeded the number registered with the government. 

People’s charter given to the government ignored in the policy. 

He said “It is a pity they spoke to the TTAG and that was it and they came out with a policy. We demand they have a policy by speaking to everyone, both small and big and then come out with a policy. That will mean taxi drivers, small and medium sized hoteliers basically everyone involved in the industry. We spoke to every one of these constituencies and prepared the peoples charter. It also involved a several meetings with experts. That was not done while preparing the tourism policy”. When asked what he wanted, he said the policy based on the people’s charter ought to be the way forward. He said this charter had been given to the government.  His stance was very clear but there were others who had their own say on the situation.

Nilesh Shah the President of TTAG said “The consultancy spoke to the TTAG but their ideas will have to be implemented by people on the ground”. He said the idea of village tourism would require cooperation of the people of the area to ensure it was a success.  

Blaise Costabir Chairman CII said it was important that Goa Tourism Board involve senior officials of the government including the leader of the opposition as well as representatives of the TTAG, CII, GCCI as well as four nominees suggested by the industry. He felt it was important the board be filled with professional people who had the relevant industry experience. He felt it was important the nominees be approved by the industry.

We don’t need consultants. This is daylight robbery. 

Aloo Gomes Pereira a veteran of the industry slammed the government and said “Why are people from the trade not being part of the implementation. We don’t need consultants, why waste money. This is daylight robbery. There are Directors in the tourism department, what are they doing. Why have a consultancy. The state has no money for infrastructure work but we throw money on consultants.” He said the government should provide infrastructure, cleanliness, water and electricity and leave the rest to the private sector.

One can only hope the hope of a realistic tourism policy becomes a reality soon because the international market has become very competitive and it would help to have clarity and vision in Goa.