EDITORIAL
Meeting with stakeholders must result in resolutions to major long-pending issue
On Thursday, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant chaired a meeting of stakeholders to understand their pain points. Several issues came up. Responding to them, he assured them that their grievances would be looked into in preparation for the next tourist season beginning in October this year.
Many raised the problems faced in obtaining trade licences and during renewal of licences from the local bodies. Deliberations were also held on enhancing ease of doing business in the tourism sector, simplification of licensing norms, employment generation for Goans in tourism and hospitality, effective waste management, beach cleanliness, road upkeep, safety, and tax and excise rationalisation for the hospitality sector. Sawant said his government would amend the laws or tweak the rules to improve ease of doing business. This will also help MICE tourism. He also said that issues such as global connectivity and visa on arrival would be resolved with the help of the Union Civil Aviation Ministry, the Ministry of External
Affairs, and PMO.
On a positive note, these kinds of exercises help stakeholders get the issues facing them highlighted. The CM chairing the meeting was more significant for the stakeholders to get their issues redressed. Unlike the general trend, Thursday’s meeting was held well ahead of the new season. It also shows that the Tourism Department has begun to plan early. Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte started holding such meetings last year, and the Tourism Department was able to address many grievances raised by the stakeholders.
However, there are some important issues that need the attention of the government. The most important one is taxi aggregators. Allowing multiple taxi apps would significantly boost tourism and build confidence in the sector, the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) has said. It has proposed the formation of a Taxi Action Empowered Committee for taking immediate action against unruly taxi drivers and providing protection to drivers affiliated with app-based services. It has also called for the implementation of the draft Goa Transport Aggregator Guidelines, 2025. The draft notification had given locals as well as tourists much hope, but the government seems to have developed cold feet in getting app-based aggregators on board.
Music copyright enforcement is also an issue for the industry, as hotels and event venues have alleged harassment from multiple organisations for playing recorded music. TTAG recommended that the government facilitate a discussion with music rights bodies to rationalise fees. Raising concern over garbage management, it has also said that roads leading to tourist spots remain littered. Goa’s beach shack owners have called for the resolution of multiple issues affecting their operations, including the creation of proper sewage disposal infrastructure and a complete ban on beach hawkers and vendors. They have asked for a comprehensive, sustainable, and easily accessible sewage management solution for all shacks. The last issue most definitely is one that needs to be tackled before the shacks come up. They also want a single-window clearance system for licences and essential utility permissions for excise, electricity, and water connections. Holding deliberations with stakeholders is a move in the right direction, but more needs to be done to create the necessary infrastructure, help youngsters get into tourism-related businesses, maintain cleanliness, reduce the negative effects of tourism, and, of course, improve public transport.
