PORVORIM: There were heated exchanges between Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai and Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on the lavish expenditure on Road Shows. Vijai alleged that Tourism Ministers had made 4 trips to Spain and questioned how many tourists had come from Spain to Goa. Rohan denied that he had gone to Spain. Vijai also alleged that for the National Games, the Tourism Department spent more than the Information dept on National Games.
When things really reached a boiling point Rohan took a swipe against Vijai citing this is not 16B. At this Vijai shot back by saying that Rohan charges 60% and Tourism Director charges 5%. When asked about this 60% at a press conference addressed by him, Rohan evaded the topic.
Recalling the late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s take on Road Shows Vijai cited that he had asked to do pre-audit on these jaunts. Parrikar also said that accountability parametres were to be framed, Vijai recalled. He pointed out that Rs 63 crores had been spent on Road Shows of which Rs 34 crores were spent on foreign Road Shows and Rs 29.84 crores had been spent on Road Shows in other parts of India.
Vijai also alleged that in four years Tourism Ministers had gone four times to Spain. How many tourists have come from Spain, he questioned. Do you have any return on the investment? Vijai asked.
Tourism Minister Rohan agreed with Vijai that due to Covid pandemic tourism had taken a hit. He said after 2022 his department was trying to develop ‘Tourism Beyond Beaches.’ “I have not gone to Spain. There is nothing on my passport,” Rohan countered. He also cited that all decision are taken by the Goa Tourism Board which is headed by the chief minister.
“We had decided to explore emerging markets in presenting Goa to the world,” Rohan said, at which Vijai countered whether Spain was an emerging market. To this Rohan said, “We don’t have the figures of tourists who arrived from Spain since Emigration does not share the numbers with us.”
Asking further supplementaries Vijai said earlier Vinsan Graphics was the son-in-law of the Tourism Dept, now Sean AdEvents had become the son-in-law.
Vijai also questioned why Tourism Dept had spent more on National Games then the Information Dept which generally does the publicity. Citing statistics, he stated that Information Dept had spent Rs 3.67 crore on National Games while ironically Tourism Dept had spent Rs 4 crore. He alleged a ‘joint venture’ between Shah Jahan, Chief Minister and Rohan, since in certain cases where there were objections, CM had overruled on the file.
Rohan countered that his department is promoting sports tourism. “Whatever we do is placed in the Empowered Committee as far as the report is concerned. If he wants the report copy we will give it to him.”
Vijai alleged that while the Chief Minister was taking loans for the Budget, the Tourism Dept was finishing the money by citing expenditure made at BLTM (Rs 1.4 crore) to bring tourists from Delhi to Goa and GITM (Rs 5.5 cr). At that time he was shouting that then Tourism Minister had spent Rs 30 lakh.
Rohan Khaunte cited that when earlier only Goa was seen at Road Shows abroad, today Ladakh, UP, Karnataka, MP are participating in those international marts, Goa does not participate alone.
Vijai again alleged that Rohan is finishing the money and again asked whether he remembers what Parrikar had said. “There is no accountability,” Vijai alleged. At this Rohan took a swipe at Vijai by saying, “Speaker Sir, this is not 16B…..this is not 16B.”
Vijai shot back by alleging, “He takes 60%, 60% has to be returned to him. His director takes 5%. I will give you the full list. And the annual turnover of his Sean AdEvents is Rs 60 crore. Whose turnover is Rs 60 crores?”
Rohan Khaunte did not counter the 60% allegation. Later, at a press conference when Rohan Khaunte talked about Dnyan Dev, mediapersons again asked Rohan about the 60% allegation, Rohan said, “It is easy to make 60% allegation. When 16B was there Churchill Alemao told me ‘case to suitcase.’ Let us not get into all those things. If there is some merit on it let us discuss it. Passing comments are made on me without any substance.”