It is without a doubt the biggest industry in the state. The resorts and hotels that dot the landscape are an important part of the economy. It provides jobs to tens of thousands and generates huge sums of money. Yes, the tourism industry is very important in Goa. And now the minister handling the tourism portfolio Rohan Khaunte said his government had decided to freeze the process of granting permissions for water sport activities across Goa. He said “We have currently suspended and decided to freeze the process of granting permissions for water sport activities across Goa owing to irregularities in the processes involved.” He went on to say that every NOC to be given to the water sports industry would be stopped unless the matter was reviewed. The minister made it clear the water sports activity operators would have to take permission from the tourism department first and then from the captain of ports.
This move evoked a reaction from members of the tourism industry. Nilesh Shah President TTAG said that safety was of paramount importance but as of now the industry did not fall under the ambit of the tourism department and permissions in his opinion were given by the river navigation department. He said “It is important that there is authority that will directly oversee them. The way they operate from Miramar has to be done in a proper manner. It ought to be properly conducted in a systematic manner.” When asked how long it would take for the minister to bring in all the changes he wanted, Nilesh said the minister had promised it would all fall into place before the next season commenced. He felt by August, the new system would be in place.
Charley Rodrigues, a water sport operator, felt this move should have been initiated years ago but it was good it was done right now. He said “Right now it is all a mess, it is an absolute disaster with most operators conducting business without license. No one checks these establishments. Those who have the papers in order have to go to the fisheries department, captain of port, panchayat and then based on all that get the tourism licence”. He went on to say that ninety percent of the establishments in the industry did not have their papers in order. He claimed tourists would walk into his office complaining how they were being cheated all over the state. Charley said creating new regulation was not impressive but implementation and monitoring was much more important. He expressed the hope the minister would be successful in what he had set out to do.
Similar sentiments were expressed by Pele who runs a water sports business. He said “We are the locals; we are the traditional fishermen who have been driven out of business due to big crafts using led lamps. How many Goan fishermen are in the business you think now? Look at the water sports business to which many of the fishermen moved into, they have to deal with people coming from Mumbai and Delhi who conduct business without having papers in order. We should get preference, we don’t want these people.”
Poonam Ribo who runs water sports business in the state felt it was a thought full step by the minister, to take in consideration the irregularities in this space. She felt it could only be a boon to make Goan waters safer. She said “We cannot deny that it’s not fair if some operators go through all due diligence and some simply start operations without. I hope and believe that this could make the process smoother too”.
There is no doubt the industry has been allowed to function in a pretty haphazard manner and it made a lot of sense to bring order and sanity into the business. One can only hope this initiative by the minster is successful.
