Team Herald
PANJIM: Four MLAs of the ruling bloc found flaws in the Tourism Master Plan and Policy at a meeting called by Tourism Minister Manohar Azgaonkar to discuss the proposed policy document on Wednesday.
The MLAs sought that the implementation of the draft tourism master plan and policy formulated by a consortium of KPMG Advisory Services Private Limited and Tourism & Leisure (T&L) Advisory Services, Spain be kept on hold until several flaws in the tourism sector are addressed.
BJP MLAs Michael Lobo, Glen Ticlo, Alina Saldanha and MGP’s Deepak Pawaskar pointed out lacunae in the draft and asked Azgaonkar to call for another meeting of MLAs, stakeholders, architects, environmentalists, etc.
“The entire exercise (of drafting the policy) is a failure. We need to first bring in order many facts of tourism like amendment to the Tourism Trade Act, new rules in the Home Department for tourists caught creating menace, etc. We are not attracting the kind of tourists Goa deserves. All the nuisance-creating visitors like those involved in drugs, prostitution, littering and other unlawful activities should be slapped a fine and sent to jail, only then quality tourists will be encouraged to visit the State,” Lobo told Herald after the meeting.
The Deputy Speaker lamented that agencies drafting the policy missed out on crucial points related to solving existing problems and uplifting tourism. “The draft policy essentially speaks about how Goa can be made into Singapore. Goa is a state and not a country that such a thought process is put into the draft. The basic issues on tackling existing problems are not mentioned. How can such a draft be implemented? I have requested the Tourism Minister to call for a meeting of all stakeholders until which it should be kept on hold,” he added.
Saldanha echoed Lobo’s views citing that the consortium was unaware of certain aspects mentioned in the draft copy. She expressed her dissatisfaction to the details spelt out at the presentation claiming that the draft policy ‘is too theoretical and encompassing as if it is meant for the entire country and not Goa specific’.
“The draft policy speaks about transforming certain villages into tourism village/hub. I asked them the criteria for which they had no answer, they told me that the villages are already selected and mentioned in the (draft) tourism master plan,” she said, wondering whether the village authorities were taken into confidence for the proposed project. She pointed out to the failure on the part of the agencies to take cognizance of factors like the size of the State, high population density per sq km, etc.
“The usual trend is that a tourism master plan follows the policy, but in Goa it is going the reverse way,” she said, an opinion backed by Ticlo. Both, besides Pawaskar, have sought another meeting on the policy as well as the draft tourism master plan.
“Many factors related to the tourism are not mentioned,” Pawaskar said. Ticlo suggested the government look into solving issues like visa rules, expensive stay/food, garbage, etc. “We are only focusing on the quantum and not the quality of tourists. We want well behaved and well mannered tourists. Unless these issues are resolved, Goa’s tourism will get into its worst phase. Government has to immediately step in. The visas, charter operations and many other issues have to be addressed,” he commented during the discussion with the attendees.
Azgaonkar has assured that tourism officials will begin a crack down on the beach nuisance.
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Form committee, says Michael
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo demanded that the government form a committee instead of depending on the tourism policy at this stage as various issues plaguing the tourism industry need urgent attention. He put forth this suggestion to Tourism Minister Manohar Azgaonkar during the discussion on the draft tourism policy.
“Mere tall statements on improving tourism in Goa will not solve the problem. A committee or a Board needs to be formed under the Tourism Minister with MLAs, Tourism Director, stakeholders and small and big traders as members. Unless we solve the present problems, tourism will not improve. Our priority should be to bring tourism back on track,” he said, suggesting that the policy ‘is not required at this stage’.
