The State government last week approved the Beach Shack Policy for 2019 to 2022 paving the way for the allotment of shacks before October. While the intention of the government seems to be clear of having the shacks opened before the season starts, what is confusing is the hike in the rates for the shacks. The government has also decided to clampdown on shack owners following complaints of ‘overcharging’.
While this apears to be a good move, considering that several tourists have been complaining of overcharging and cheating by shacks, one cannot generalise the issue and blame all for overcharging. While there is no denying that tourists do complain of high prices and rude treatment by shack owners, what the government needs to think on is how long the business lasts and the cost of manpower and so also building the infrastructure and cost of setting up the shack.
The tourists season hardly lasts for seven to eight months and considering that shacks are now going to be charged a licence fee ranging from Rs 75,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh, with almost a 10 per cent increase every year, they have to think how this amount can be recovered. What is also to be taken into consideration is the cost of manpower and the infrastructure and their recovery.
While the issue of overcharging is debatable, the penalty of suspension of licence is harsh. One opines that nobody is forcing tourists to go to the shacks. On every beach there are budget restaurants as well and if they cannot afford the rates, they can go elsewhere. Taxi operators were also charged with similar complaints. But mind you, the issue of taxi operators and the shack owners is different. While the tourists have no option where taxis are concerned, they do have options for eating out. If the shacks start serving cheap food and beverages there is every possibility that domestic tourists will create havoc on the beaches as they are already doing with drinking on beaches despite hefty fines in place. In a way, the overcharging acts as a deterrent to the ‘unruly’ domestic tourist, who creates a nuisance on the beaches. What is important to note here is that the government has also made it compulsory for every beach shack to install Close Circuit Television Cameras (CCTVs), which is an additional burden on the local beach shacks.
Having said this, what is disturbing is that many of the shacks in the Northern coastal belts are run by Delhiites and foreigners eating into the pie of the locals. Also, there is a fact that the government needs to crack down on some places that display boards on which is written ‘Indian tourists not allowed’. As it is public property and licenced by the government every citizen of the country has a right to enter if he is ready to pay there cannot be any differentiation. Considering that tourism is the only ‘big’ source of revenue for the State, the government also needs to understand that it is also the biggest source of employment for the youth. As admitted on the floor of the House by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, the government cannot provide employment to each and everyone. If that is so, why is the government interfering in attempts made by local youth on self employment?
Recently, Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar also made a statement that restaurants and shacks are overcharging tourists, which has led to a drop in tourism footfalls. However, the minister seems to be misguided, Goa has different category hotels and restaurants of every category. Has the Tourism Minister ever tried to streamline rates in five star hotels? The fact that the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) president Savio Messias said there was need of beach shacks and only private shacks should be given licences, speaks volumes that beach shacks are eating into businesses of starred restaurants and hotels, who are taking tourists for a jolly ride.
