Herald: What has been your experience in the run up to the event?
Harindra Singh: I am quite shocked actually. Usually at the venue there would be a crowd and there would be a large number of people on the streets but that is missing this time. There is the odd foreigner on the roads which is unusual for this time of the year. I am keeping my fingers crossed. There have been very good sales of tickets and I hope to see a large number of people when the show commences. At least I think we will be able to touch last year’s numbers when over a lakh people attended the show.
Herald: What are the earnings to the State?
Harindra Singh: Well there is the direct earning to the State coffers in terms of the various taxes which amounted to approximately Rs 3.5 crore and then approximately through this festival about Rs 500 crore entered the local economy. I can say this confidently because each individual could have spend approximately Rs 10,000 a day for accommodation, transport and food and multiply that by 50,000 people everyday. Oh yes, we had also paid Rs 1 crore for the police bandobast during the festival last year. We contribute to the local economy and we are proud of it.
Herald: Where do the fans come from?
Harindra Singh: Delhi, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka and internationally from 32 countries as diverse as the South Asian countries like Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and the
Middle eastern country like the UAE , UK and Russia. Last year 30% of the audience was international. This time looking at the state of the tourism season I doubt that will be the case.
Herald: The show is bringing in a large number of people, how do you think the State should handle this entire exercise?
Harindra Singh: I think the way the hoteliers and the taxi service deals with it is ridiculous. Room rates, despite the poor season, have not dropped though I hear that some have done so. Taxi rates remain high as ever and some have jacked it up further. It has to be done with prudence and if done so it will benefit the State because this festival will grow even bigger in the years to come.
Herald: Given these issues would you contemplate shifting out of Goa?
Harindra Singh: Never, Goa is unique and we started off over here and then moved the festival all over the country so that is a thought that would never enter our mind.
Herald: You are given permissions at the very last minute like it happened this time, your opinion?
Harindra Singh: We applied for permission in January 2014 and we filled the forms and followed the book but it happens every time.
