PANJIM: The Department of Tourism has decided to have a status quo in the water sports operations impasse and keep the Goa Tourism and Goa Electronics Limited (GEL) counter at beaches on hold.
The decision was informed by Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte after having joint deliberations with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, MLAs from coastal areas and water sports operators.
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During the meeting, discussions were held on various issues regarding the water sports operations wherein the operators completely opposed the Goa Tourism and GEL-run counter at beaches across the State.
After the meeting, Tourism Minister Khaunte said, “We have decided to have a status quo in the water sports matter. The Goa Tourism and GEL counter will not be operated at the beaches,” he said.
“While we have maintained a status quo, water sports operators have been asked to give suggestions on how they plan to develop a systematic online and queue managed water sports booking system within next 15 days. By that time we are keeping on hold Goa Tourism and GEL system,” he said.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said, “The stakeholders are of the opinion that this business shouldn’t go into the hands of non-Goans because of strictures passed by the High Court of Bombay at Goa. There has to be a solution to weed out the touts and cheats in the system,” he said.
Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas said, “While the water sports operators have agreed and taken responsibility to keep the touts and cheats away, the government is urged to deploy police in the coastal belt and help weed out the touts and cheats. Government has agreed to that.”
Water sports operator Francisco Fernandes alias Pele from Benaulim said, “We have requested the government to let the water sports business to remain with the traditional Goans and the government has agreed with us,” he said.
