TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: The tourism department is proposing to enforce, the 45 day minimum time period to process applications submitted to organize tourism events for consideration by the committee under the single window system (SWS). The decision comes within days of the controversy surrounding cancellation of the Indo-Russian music concert.
Reports emerging from the department suggest that an application for the live music concert at Baga was received only in January this year leaving SWS committee barely two weeks to process the same.
On the receiving end for various issues that have come to the fore, the tourism department has taken a stand that in future it would require that organizers submit applications for major tourism-related events at least 45 days prior to the conduct of the event.
“We have sought for views and suggestions from members of the single window committee on various aspects and possibly review the guidelines for grant of permissions for tourism events under the SWS,” said a senior tourism department official.
The official added that the committee needs sufficient time to scrutinize applications particularly from the security point of view, traffic, and so on. The department also resolved to consult the concerned local legislators before the SWS committee clears an application. Likewise barring organizers from selling tickets prior to grant of permissions for events is also likely to form part of the new set of guidelines.
Sources have disclosed that the organizers of the Indo-Russian music fest are likely to re-apply for permissions and may possibly consider a change of venue.
This is the second time during the on-going tourism season where the single window system introduced by the present government has been bogged down with issues. The first being the scramble for permissions between agencies for electronic dance music festivals in December 2013 and the latest over permissions granted for the two day Indo-Russian music fest at Baga.
Senior tourism department officials have disclosed that efforts are on from the ministry level to ensure that there would be no strain on Indo-Russian ties and the Goa tourism ministry is actively engaged in resolving the discord between the two sides.
