Team Herald
PANJIM: Even as the High Court has issued strictures on the organisation of Sunburn Klassique event, Minister for Waste Management, RDA and Ports has come out in support of such EDM festivals and has even called for these events to take place twice a year to boost tourism.
“Right now the tourism is in a bad shape, the hotel occupancy is just 50 per cent and we are in the peak season. This will have an adverse impact on the dwindling economy,” said Lobo, while speaking to reporters on Friday.
He added that events like Sunburn bring in a mixed crowd, which will help bring back tourism on track.
“During Sunburn, the bookings should touch 80 per cent and I am for such events being organised at least twice a year,” he said.
On the tourism slowdown, he said there are various factors impacting the industry in Goa right now.
“I will write to the Chief Minister and the Tourism Minister to hold a fortnightly meeting to discuss the shortcomings and the solutions required, for bringing the sector back on track. I will ask them to make me a part of the meetings,” he said.
He also said the government and panchayats have to act strongly against the homestay businesses that are eating into the pie of hoteliers.
“I will ask the tourism minister and panchayats to act against them as the homestay businesses operated by a particular company is not paying any taxes to the government, besides the water and electricity is billed at domestic consumer rate,” he added. He also called on the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) to act strongly on the same issue as well.
