PANJIM, FEB 3
Opposition leader Manohar Parrikar today criticized the government over the dwindling rate of foreign tourist arrivals in the state.
Bad publicity, killing fees and harassment by police, dirty and overcrowded beaches is the major reason why the tourist arrivals is dropping every year, Parrikar said
The former chief minister said that the foreign tourist arrival in the state has reduced drastically.
“According to the Wall street journal Goa’s share of foreign tourist has gone even below Bihar,” he said.
He said that the share of foreign tourist in Goa has gone down from 4 per cent to 2.3 per cent while Bihar’s share has gone up from 2.1 per cent to 4.6 per cent.
He said the increasing crime rate has added to Goa’s problems.
“In last 30 months there were 117 murders, 99 rapes in 30 and 77 kidnapping cases,” he stated.
Besides, the high taxes levied on the tourism industry are also adding to problems.
“For the first time in years the occupancy in hotels was only 20 to 30 per cent this Christmas season,” Parrikar said.
Mining policy: Parrikar demanded that the government immediately announce the Mining policy for the state.
He said that the mining is rowing a potential seed of violence in a state which is otherwise peaceful.
“Mining is degrading the environment and the government has failed to control it,” he said.
“If you see in the areas like Sanguem the noise pollution of trucks is such that the students can’t listen to what teacher is saying in school,” he said adding “even there is so much difficulty in driving and the fatal accidents have been a regular case.”
“The final result of mining is just chaos and confusion,” he stated.
He also criticized the government for claiming that mining is bringing in revenue to the state.”
“Major of the amount collected in form of taxes goes to the central government while the environmental damage has to be borne by the state,” he said.
