Team Herald
PANJIM: Reacting to the decision taken by State Cabinet to slash 50 per cent of their licence fees, the Shack Owners Welfare Society (SOWS) of Goa, which had wanted 100 per cent waiver, has welcomed the move.
Speaking to Herald, SOWS President Cruz Cardozo admitted that they had wanted more, as in the 100 per cent waiver but that they were still nonetheless grateful that they got something at least as opposed to no waiver at all.
“We have to thank the State government, the Tourism Director and all those who have helped in ensuring that we got this waiver,” said Cardozo.
He explained that the waiver also covered their demand for reduction in other fees such as beach beds etc. He pointed out that the waiver was the same as the 50 per cent waiver that was provided to them last season as well.
However, they are still opposing the high fees they have to pay to Goa Electronics Limited (GEL), which they want to avoid and will make a separate representation as they believe the work GEL is doing can be done by the shack owners directly, meaning they can manage without GEL’s services.
Cardozo also said the shack owners expect to be given the shack licence next week itself, which is in keeping with their demand for being handed over the licences as soon as possible.
While the shack owners are hopeful of a good season and have said as per recent trends, they do expect a good footfall of domestic tourists.
Cardozo said that all the shack owners and staff have been instructed to strictly follow all the government’s guidelines with respect to precautions against COVID-19 and that they will urge the guests to follow the same as well.
The shack owners also have reservations against the structure of the excise fees. Other tourism stakeholders have also complained about an increase in the slabs and rates of various fees of the State government this year. They also called on the government to help ensure that there is a good tourism season this year going by the government’s own assertion that most of the population have taken the vaccine dose.
