Team Herald
PANJIM: The Goa Small and Medium Hoteliers Association on Thursday demanded immediate crackdown on over 11,000 illegal tourism establishments operating in the State.
The Association earlier this week submitted a memorandum to the Minister for Tourism Rohan Khaunte highlighting the impact of illegal hospitality sector on their business. Following submission by the Association, the Minister directed Tourism Department to identify the illegal operators and take necessary action.
Addressing media persons, President of Association, Serafino Cotta claimed that according to the government report, the State has over 11,000 hotels, guest houses, villas, resorts and others operating illegally without obtaining requisite permissions and consents from the authorities including the Department of Tourism, Fire and Emergency Services, Goa State Pollution Control Board and local governing bodies.
He said that the Goa Tourism Development Corporation appointed consultancy firm in its report, submitted in 2020, had said that there are 76 per cent illegal five-star hotels operating without permissions, while another 29 per cent are in the category of three-star hotels.
As per the report, he said that there are 43 per cent illegal hotels operating under C-Category while another 74 per cent are in D-Category.
“The report claims that 98 per cent villas are illegal in the State,” Cotta said.
The president informed that he had submitted a memorandum to then Minister for Tourism Manohar Ajgaonkar highlighting the illegal hospitality business.
“However, for two years, he sat on the report. We are hopeful that the new Minister will take some action,” he said.
Cotta urged the government to ensure that the tour operators do not sign deals with these illegal hotels.
In their series of demands, the Association urged the government that they should be given representation in tourism related decision, in lines with the TTAG.
They also demanded that they be given representation on the Tourism Board.
