Tourism stakeholders prevent GEL from erecting kiosk for watersports at Cavelossim

Team Herald

MARGAO: Tourism stakeholders in Cavelossim on Thursday forced Goa Electronics Limited officials to remove the kiosk installed on the beach to implement the Tourism Department’s queue system for water sports’ operators. They alleged that the kiosk was an attempt to take control of their businesses.  

Tension mounted at the site, and the police were called to take control of the situation.  

Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas, Sarpanch of Village Panchayat Cavelossim Dixon Vaz and other local leaders were at the site, and questioned Tourism Department and GEL officials about the installation of the kiosk.  

Several stakeholders including water sports operators and taxi operators said they were shocked to see the kiosk being set up as they had already opposed the queue-system strongly.

“We have brought the issue to the notice of local MLA Venzy Viegas, and thereafter to former MLA Churchill Alemao. It looks like the government is trying to finish off the local stakeholders in the tourism sector and want to take over our source of income by installing such a service,” said Roy Barretto, a water sports operator and social activist.  

He pointed out that GEL has taken no permissions from the local village panchayat before installing the kiosk and called it an attempt to bring outsiders to control the tourism business in Goa, at the cost of the locals.  

The Cavelossim panchayat members and locals involved in tourism activities took the GEL officials  to task as they had not sought permission from the local authorities.  

Sarpanch Dixon Vaz said that this kiosk was installed by the Tourism Department through GEL, which is not acceptable.  

“The Court had told the Tourism Department to follow the queue system at the beach, however, the court did not direct the Department to do this through a second party,” said Vaz. He said that the local panchayat was not taken into confidence before installing the kiosk, which is totally unfair on the part of the Tourism Department.  

“The Department should implement these orders only at places where tourists are facing problems, and they should not disturb the local stakeholders,” said Dixon.  

Later, MLA Venzy Viegas requested the officials to remove the kiosk and wait for the issue to be sorted out. The tourism stakeholders and panchayat had earlier opposed the government’s bid to get Blue Flag Certification for Cavelossim beach.