MARGAO: Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat has urged the government to come out with a sustainable tourism policy, which will help promote Goa as a tourist destination.
He added that the government should release an ‘annual calendar of events’, which will help tourists book their holidays well in advance and boost tourism.
On World Tourism Day, the Leader of Opposition tweeted, “The Nature of Goa is an annual holiday destination for migratory birds. The spectacle of bird watching is visual treat for visiting tourists. I urge Goa’s Chief Minister to promote Goa by preserving its natural habitat, culture and traditions.”
He added that Goa is blessed with natural beauty and that the State’s natural habitats are tourist attractions. He added that Goan heritage, art, culture and traditions need to be promoted in a systematic manner.
“It is the need of the hour that the government finalises its long pending ‘Tourism Policy’ and notifies the same along with the ‘Tourism Master Plan’. The government will have to take some proactive steps to boost the tourism industry in Goa. The government should take experts in marketing, environment, art, culture, heritage along with the tourism stakeholders while formulating policies for promotion of tourism in Goa,” Kamat said.
The former Chief Minister opined that the govt should act as a facilitator to local tourism stakeholders and take steps to ensure that their morale is kept high at all times. For this, he felt that shack operators, hoteliers, travel agents, taxi operators, water sports and other adventure sports operators etc should be provided with all possible assistance from State as well as Central Schemes.
“I had urged the Chief Minister and Tourism Minister to curtail wasteful expenditure on promotional activities, which do not yield any results and focus on creation of basic infrastructure and other amenities which will give comforts to the visiting tourists. I once again appeal to the government to change priorities and emphasise on productive steps to bring in more quality tourists,” he added.
He urged the govt to ensure that law and order is maintained during the forthcoming tourist season and strict vigil is kept on illegal activities and trade.
