TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The beach shack operators and tourism industry stakeholders meeting called to form a Goa Tourism Stakeholders Association on Saturday remained inconclusive with two more meetings-cum-workshops scheduled at Colva and Calangute on March 9 and 10, respectively.
The closed door meeting, Saturday, was attended by members from different associations such as beach shack owners, private shack and hut owners, medium hotels, water sports, rental bike and car owners, taxi owners, life guards, event managers and entertainers, party venue and bar and restaurant owners.
“The forming of a collective association is still at a discussion stage. We have called for two more meetings to listen to their demands, views, suggestions and solutions,” one of the members said.
Shack operators have been the most affected this season, not only due to fewer tourist arrivals but also due to demolition of certain structures and cutting the number of deck beds, even as the tourism department argues that these were illegal.
Insiders claim that 20 per cent of the shacks may shut down before the end of the tourist season due to poor revenue. Resorts and hotels have had less than full capacity., while lifeguards complain of being neglected by the government due to unfair service conditions and illegalities involving the service provider.
