GOVT FLIP-FLOP?
Masseurs seek permit for business on beaches
BINDIYA CHARI
PANJIM, DEC 13
While the Tourism Department claims that beggars, masseurs, tattoo artists and hawkers are not permitted to do any kind of business on the beaches of Goa, the department has been receiving applications seeking permission to conduct such businesses.
Small time traders involved in different ‘illegal’ businesses on the beaches have now been doing the rounds of Tourism Department ever since the newly constituted tourist security force started clamping on them.
During the last count on Friday noon, over 50 persons, mostly migrants, who arrived here during the tourist season, have submitted their applications to the Tourism Department seeking permission to conduct their business along the beaches.
Pamela Mascarenhas, Deputy Director of Tourism confirmed that the department has received applications seeking permission to do business along the beach belt.
Most of the applicants are masseurs who claim to be residing in Goa for several years now.
The Tourist Trade Act, has no provision to allow these kind of businesses’ on the beaches.
In fact, an attempt in the past to legalise business by masseurs/masseuse on the beaches of Goa did not materialise.
“There was an attempt to amend the Act to allow masseurs on the beaches but it was thrown out,” said the tourism official who did not wish to be named.
Masseurs and hawkers have proved to be nuisance on the beaches as they harass tourists but they could carry on their illegal businesses’ with the blessing of the tourist police.
The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) had several times complained to the Tourism Department about beggars, hawkers and masseurs having a field day on the beaches urging it to free the beaches from such elements.
The Tourism Department had expressed inability to do anything claiming it had no control on tourist police.
But things have changed now since the department has got its own security force.
However, it‘s a mystery why the department has been entertaining applications from masseurs and hawkers though the Tourist Trade Act, says otherwise.
When contacted TTAG President Gaurish Dhond said he was not aware of the development but would certainly check with the director of Tourism.
Efforts to contact Director of Tourism Swapnil Naik proved futile as the latter is on an official tour to Japan.
GOVT FLIP-FLOP?
PANJIM, DEC 13 While the Tourism Department claims that beggars, masseurs, tattoo artists and hawkers are not permitted to do any kind of business on the beaches of Goa, the department has been receiving applications seeking permission to conduct such businesses.
