TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa launched a scathing criticism on the garbage nuisance and fleecing of tourists by taxi drivers, saying these negatives, along with others, would ultimately kill the tourism goose and drive tourists away from Goa.
These concerns were voiced by stakeholders at a special presentation before Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar Friday where they highlighted both the pros and cons of Goa tourism and the need to tackle issues with an iron hand.
Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar assured them that the Tourism director had been asked to try and find a solution to the Taxi problem within five days. Parrikar also responded to other concerns and demands made by TTAG by saying that government was working on the visa on arrival issue.
Promising to ensure that tourism would increase by 30 per cent next year, the chief minister – tongue in cheek – that he would reduce tax to 2 per cent for 10 months while keeping it to 20 per cent for the two peak tourism months. He however, warned stakeholders that this proposal should not leave the room, sending them into ripples of laughter, at his gentle chiding of the industry on overpricing of hotel rooms during peak season.
TTAG also raised concerns that presence of lamanis too would drive away tourism he said that the government would out in place measures to handle garbage by the year end. He also promised a better than expected tax regime and expected them to play their part.
“The budget cannot be revealed in advance. But you are in for a shock…because I will give you more than expected reduction,” Parrikar said, in the presence of the Tourism minister and the deputy chief minister Mr Francis D’ Souza as well as TTAG chief, Francis Braganza and other industry leaders.
He however warned industry that they have to pay their dues and do their part too.
“I will be harsh on someone who does not pay,” he warned, giving the example of a 5 star hotel which had not paid its dues for two years.
While responding to Braganza’s fears that conduct of tourist taxi drivers if not resolved at the earliest, would spell doom for Goa since they were fleecing tourists and giving a bad name to Goa, Parrikar warned that if any “taxi drivers take the law in their own hands I will see that he is put behind bars…I cannot accept that(taking law in own hands).” “We are thinking of (fare) meters…” he said advising that this problem had to be sorted out by settling it hotel by hotel.
“Visa on arrival is being sorted out,” he said promising that tourism would be given a lot of boost when the first part of the regional plan would come out by June/July.
Earlier Francis Braganza in his detailed presentation to the government today said, “We first need to clean up the mess on the ground before we build ivory towers…Projects like towers and ropeways are welcome but they will only show tourists all the filth below and not beautiful Goa,” he said.
Braganza however spelt out several recommendations which insisted on a tourist taxi policy and working out a single window system as done in the case of water sports. Metering of taxis, is also what the TTAG moots for as a solution to the on going crises in Goa affecting tourism in a big way.
Braganza also insisted on transparency in various tourism related aspects pertaining to selection of agencies for events and other aspects pertaining to tourism.
He impressed on the need for mega events in Goa all year round to bring in tourists through out the year to Goa. As far as organisation and approvals, he impressed on the need for starting the processes in advance so that everything works out smoothly.
The presentation also urged the government not to tax the tourism industry heavily as it would affect business in addition to making holidays expensive particularly since Thai and Sri Lanka offer cheaper holiday packages.
He asked the government to review the shack policy and strike a balance between commercial use and pedestrian access on the beaches as far as deck beds, umbrellas.
He stressed on a tourism board with experts to formulate and give a professional direction to tourism in Goa and hailed the appointment of a PR agency for promotion of Goa tourism.
