PONDA: The protest by CollemDudhsagar tourist guides against the recent fee hike entered its fourth day. The guides are demanding that the government rollback the fee increase and are urging officials to engage in discussions to resolve the issue.
The monsoon trekking season began this year on August 16, and the following day, August 17, the guides went on strike in response to a sudden fee hike of Rs 227 imposed by the government.
The fee structure was recently altered, with the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) and Goa Forest Development Corporation Limited (GFDC) introducing new charges of Rs 177 and Rs 50, respectively, totaling an increase of Rs 227 per trekker. Previously, the fee was Rs 100 for forest entry by the Forest Department and Rs 200 per tourist charged by the guides, making a total of Rs 300 per tourist. With the new fees, the total cost per trekker has risen to Rs 527.
The guides are concerned that the increased cost may discourage trekkers from visiting Dudhsagar Waterfall, impacting their livelihood. They are calling for an immediate rollback of the Rs 227 fee hike imposed by the GTDC and GFDC.
Additionally, the guides have requested a meeting with the local Panchayat, police, Forest Department, and local MLAs to address their concerns. They are also advocating for trekkers to be allowed to view the waterfall up close from the base, rather than from a distance at the current watchtower, which they feel does not fully satisfy visitors.
