Team Herald
PANJIM: The State Tourism Department has decided to keep a close watch on online travel portals and agencies in a bid to crackdown on the illegal traders involved in the hospitality sector.
The department has already identified and issued notices to 105 establishments operating without valid registration.
Sources informed that the department is monitoring various online travel portals such as MakeMyTrip, Yatra, Cleartrip, Airbnb and others, where the traders have been listed and accommodations and bookings are been done.
“We are going through all to identify the illegal traders who are operating businesses without valid registration and permissions from the authorities,” the sources said.
In a memorandum submitted to Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, the Small and Medium Hoteliers Association had pointed out that there are over 11,000 illegal tourism establishments operating in the State. Following this, the Tourism Minister had directed the department to initiate action.
