TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Tourism Department in its drive against unregistered tourism trade has swooped down on illegal travel agencies, guest houses and hotels across the State.
As many as 10 unregistered travel agencies have been fined in Palolem, Canacona and 15 show cause notices have been issued to such illegally operating travel agencies, officials informed Herald.
Raids have also been conducted on unauthorised travel agencies operating in Margao and action is being initiated accordingly. The penalty of around Rs 3000 is being levied against the defaulters.
Tourism department officials have also informed of raids on illegal guest houses operating in the state. In the first such operation, a newly opened four starred hotel in Candolim was found operating without registration.
Show cause notices have been issued and the department would take further action of shutting down unregistered hotels and guest houses is they failed to comply with procedures under the Tourist Trade Act.
“The tourism department will continue its surprise checks and inspections as part of an exercise to clean up the system,” a senior tourism department official said.
The department has also taken cognisance of tour operators and travel agencies make travel plans for visitors for Carnival based on last year’s dates.
The department has officially put out the dates for Carnival as March 1-4, 2014. “Anyone luring tourists to Goa based on wrong information will not be accepted,” this senior official said.
