PANJIM: Tourism stakeholders in Goa suggest that a portion of the Rs 300 crore 60th Liberation Year grant be utilised to develop the sector in the State.
Shocked and hurt by the Union Budget ignoring the sector that has suffered perhaps the most due to the pandemic and the resultant poor business, Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) slammed the Budget for snubbing the tourism industry.
“The Union Budget did not mention tourism. This was not expected at a time when the tourism industry was in the worst state. The government should have given a holding hand,” TTAG president Nilesh Shah said speaking to Herald.
The only silver lining TTAG sees in the Budget was the boost to expand the railways and roads, which the association said, “Will help build tourism infrastructure in the long run”.
TTAG past president Savio Messias concurred and said, “The Budget has been very disappointing as far as tourism is concerned. This sector has suffered tremendously and we got no relief from anybody. The 19 per cent reduction in fund allocation to tourism is a bitter pill to swallow.”
All Goa Private Property Shacks and Huts president Dharmesh Saglani too was upset with tourism being ignored. “It’s sad that tourism had no place in the Union Budget. It was the need to revive the sector not only in Goa but across India because in pandemic times tourism has been the worst affected. The Central government had itself said that several crore jobs were lost,” he said.
Saglani further lamented that the government failed to set the priorities right and that in Goa, after the closure of mining operations, dependence on tourism has increased manifold. He demanded that ‘at least single window licence be given to all tourism stakeholders’.
The travel and tourism industry had been amongst the first and worst hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. With Goa largely dependent on the tourism sector for generating revenue to the State, much depends on its revival and this is yet to pick up pace.
TTAG now suggests that 50 per cent of the Rs 300 crore allotted to the Goa government for 60th Liberation year celebration, be diverted for development of the tourism sector. “If the money is used judiciously, we will definitely earn more revenue than is spent,” Shah added, while conceding that the coming financial year will be a challenge owing to slashing of revenue to this sector.
A similar view was shared by Messias who said, “We pray and hope that the Rs 300 crore will be spent intelligently to help make Goa a world class destination.”
Saglani had a similar suggestion on the use of Rs 300 crore funds. He said, “From the Rs 300 crore allotted to Goa, at least Rs 100 crore should be dedicated for revival of tourism in Goa.”
